Sharon Freeman Clevenger – 2-Day Integrative Psychopharmacology: The Future of Medications, Nutrition and Genetics

Outline

The Nitty Gritty of Psychopharmacology

• How the brain communicates
• Specifics about nutrition & neurotransmitters
• Gut-brain connection: What it is & does it really exist?
• Over-the-counter medications
• Nutraceuticals
• Vitamins: Differences & effectiveness
• Ancient Medications: Are they still useful?

Genetic Testing: Do’s and Don’ts!

• Do genetic assays help decide medication choices?
• Common genes tested & why
• How to use genetic assays
• Understanding Methylation
• Communicating about genetic testing
• Using genetic testing to predict response & failure

What to Do Before a Diagnosis or Prescription

• Symptoms vs. circuits
• How to identify which brain organ to target
• Using the body to heal itself: Smart nutrition
• Pharmacodynamics vs. pharmacokinetics
• Expected & unexpected interactions: CYPs made simple!
• Off-label medication use & concerns
• Pearls from the Black Box Warnings

Depressive Disorders

• Screening & differential diagnosis
• Integrative approaches: medications, nutraceuticals, herbals
• Types of antidepressants & the pearls & pitfalls of each
• Mild & severe side-effects: How to assess & what to do
• Age-related differences
• Treatment resistance: What it is and how to manage it
• Cutting-edge treatments: What’s new, What’s safe

Anxiety-Related Disorders

• Screening & differential diagnosis
• Brain organs: Targets & triggers
• Integrative approaches: medications, nutraceuticals, herbals
• Choosing gold-standard treatments
• Benzodiazepines: Pearls & problems
• Safely discontinuing benzodiazepines

Mood Disorders

• Screening, stigma & safety concerns
• Types of cyclical disorders: Different types & different treatments
• Types of medications: What to choose & what to avoid
• Monitoring for safety: Labs, age, pregnancy & side-effects
• Managing mild & severe side-effects: Assessment & interventions
• When to augment & what to augment with

Psychosis & Schizophrenia

• Brain targets for treatments
• 1st & 2nd generation anti-psychotics
• Monitoring for safety & severe side-effects
• Assessment & treatment for mild to severe side-effects
• Other uses for anti-psychotics with pearls for prescribing
• Avoiding negative side-effects: Tapering off, switching medications, augmentation

Attentional Disorders

• Neurobiology of cognitive dysfunction
• Screening & differential diagnosis
• The science behind treatment options
• Medication choices: stimulants, non-stimulants, nutraceuticals

Sleep Disorders

• Types of sleep disorders & how to screen
• Differential diagnosis
• Determining what came first
• Treatment options:
  • Medications
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy
  • Integrative approaches: Nutraceuticals, herbals
• Adverse effects & interventions

Substance Use Disorders

• Screening, stigma, diagnosis & differentials
• Abuse vs. addiction
• Helping your client recover from use
• Categories of abusable drugs:
  • Caffeine
  • Nicotine
  • Cannabis vs. CBD
  • Alcohol
  • Opiates
  • Stimulants
  • Designer drugs

Putting It All Together

• Resources for prescribers & non-prescribers
• Limitations of the research & associated risks