DCoE October Webinar: Understanding Psychopharmacology Polypharmacy

By DCoE Strategic Communications
October 16, 2012

Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury will host its next webinar, “Understanding Psychopharmacology Polypharmacy in Service Member and Veteran Populations,” from 1 to 2:30 p.m. (EDT) Oct. 25.

Health care providers treating service member and veteran populations with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) face a number of challenges. PTSD alone can be difficult to treat even when prescribed medications conform to the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense Clinical Practice Guideline. The high prevalence of people with PTSD having at least one co-occurring disorder or problem complicates treatment. Most commonly these include depression, substance use disorders, traumatic brain injury, insomnia, pain, aggressive behavior or medical/surgical problems.

As a result, providers frequently interact with patients who have complex drug regimens for both physical and psychological health disorders. Prescribers need to carefully consider the implications of adding a new medication to a treatment regimen that may already include several pharmacological agents. They also need to consider discontinuing ineffective treatments that may only complicate clinical management. Although sometimes it is necessary to prescribe a number of medications for complex patients, combinations of medications increase the occurrence of adverse drug interactions, medication misuse and medication non-compliance/adherence. Additionally, combinations of medications have been identified as a contributing factor to suicides and unintentional deaths.

Non-prescribing health care providers treating service member and veteran populations are in a unique position to identify risk of drug-drug interactions, monitor patients for adverse drug reactions, educate patients about polypharmacy and refer patients for further assessment. This webinar will:

• Review the rates of polypharmacy in service member and veteran populations with a special emphasis on psychopharmacological medications
• Identify factors leading to polypharmacy situations and the safety risks
• Describe the role of clinicians in working with patients who have complex drug regimens

Featured speaker is:

• Dr. Matthew J. Friedman, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth professor of psychiatry, and professor of pharmacology and toxicology

All professionals who care for service members are encouraged to attend, including service members and their families. You may register now, or review further information.

Continuing education units and continuing medical education credits are available. To obtain credits, you must pre-register using the Adobe Connect platform.

NEW! The American Psychological Association approved St. Louis University School of Medicine to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

Follow us on Twitter.com/DCoEPage during the webinar for live Tweeting and use #DCoEWebinar to join the conversation.

News Categories: PTSD , Substance Misuse Treatment , News Room