Psychopharmacology Webinar Series Module 5: Psychopharmacology and Evidence-Based Practices (Recorded)

LEVEL: Intermediate

Continuing Education Eligibility (Included):

2 BACB Learning
2 QABA General (In-person)
APA: 2 General (Home Study)

Today, 8.5 % of children in the United States are taking psychotropic medications, with an increasing number of children prescribed medications each year. The most common psychotropic medication prescribed for children remains stimulant medication used to treat Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity and Impulsivity (ADHD), followed by antidepressants, anxiolytics, mood stabilizers, and antipsychotics.

Many children have been diagnosed with conditions that respond positively to psychotropic medications. The increase in both the number of children diagnosed with these disorders, as well as the increasing evidence of positive results with the use of medications and increased availability of a number of different products.

In our webinar on Psychopharmacology and  Evidence-Based Practices, we focused on evidence-based assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of several diagnoses that impact children, emphasizing behavioral, environmental, educational, parental, and psychopharmacological strategies used together. We discussed the importance of careful assessments, diagnoses, choosing the correct medication for the patient, and careful monitoring for effects and side effects across time. We also discussed the importance of evaluating medication interactions, and the process of weaning medications when appropriate. Finally, we discussed the ethical issues arising when prescribing psychotropic medications, including health disparities.

Presenter: Ronald T. Brown, Ph.D., ABPP and Deborah P. Coehlo, Ph.D., C-PNP, PMHS, CFLE
Panelist: Manya Ralkowski, EdS, BCBA, LBA, IBA

Learning Objectives:

1. Review the reasons for more children being prescribed psychotropic medications in the US, including increased diagnosis of treatable conditions, increased access to safe medications, and increased trauma-related disorders in children.

2. Explore and discuss the most effective and evidence-based strategies to treat mental health disorders in children that are seen throughout various developmental stages.

3. Evaluate societal and cultural factors that may influence whether medications are used to treat mental health disorders in children.

4. Identify classes of psychotropic agents which have demonstrated effectiveness in the treatment of mental health disorders in children.

5. Discuss common medications used in the treatment of mental health disorders in children including the indication, mechanism of action, adverse and side effects, and monitoring criteria.

6. Apply knowledge to specific case studies including assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and evaluation of outcomes.

7. Analyze ethical issues arising when using medications to treat mental health disorders in children.

8. Examine approaches used to discuss medications with parents of children with mental health disorders.

Each purchase corresponds to 1 user access. Only the user assigned to a subscription will be able to participate in the lives, receive the recorded version and obtain CEUs from the webinars.

Access to the recorded version is valid for 1 month.

QABA Approved CE Provider

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