This course provides the non-psychiatric physician with an up to date approach to the assessment and treatment of major depression in the primary care office setting. The program defines the key features and sub-classificant of depressive disorders and relates the subclassification to concrete treatment planning and medication prescribing issues. A longitudinal perspective on longterm management issues and relapse prevention is provided. Critical issues in the assessment of suicide risk are described. Case vignettes illustrate key principles of treatment management within a practical clinical context.

The impact of specific medical conditions on assessment and management of depression is highlighted, as is the interaction of antidepressant medications with medications utilized in general medical practice. Concrete strategies for the selection of antidepressants and the sequencing of antidepressant treatments in patients who fail to respond to initial medication trials is discussed in detail. Important issues guiding the choice of a specific antidepressant are discussed in detail. Guidelines as to how to approach referral for psychotherapy are described, as are recommendations regarding referral for consultation by a psychiatrist. All key teaching points are illustrated by case based teaching of real world clinical challenges encountered in everyday practice.

NUMBER OF CREDIT HOURS: The Harvard Medical School designates this educational activity for a maximum of 4 AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

COST: $80.00
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OVERALL LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

1. Appreciate the criteria for diagnosing mood disorders including major depression and its subcategories
2. Understand the significance of subcategories of major depression and their implications for treatment planning
3. Identify significant medical and psychiatric comorbid disorders that impact on the assessment and treatment of mood disorders
4. Assess key issues in the patient’s presentation and longitudinal history, including the use of interview instruments
5. Evaluate patient safety and suicide risk
6. Formulate an appropriate initial psychopharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatment plan
7. Develop criteria for referral for psychiatric consultation

CLINICAL LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

1. Enhance knowledge of the sub-classification of depressive disorders
2. Enhance understanding of the psychopharmacological treatment of depressive disorders
3. Enhance skills in assessing risk factors for suicide and adverse events
4. Enhance skills in treatment planning, integrating both psychotherapy and psychopharmacology recommendations
5. Develop understanding of the sequencing of psychopharmacologic treatments for depression in patients that fail an initial antidepressant medication trial
6. Increase understanding of timely use of psychiatric consultation

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RUSSELL VASILE, MD Course Director

Russell G. Vasile MD is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, and Director of the Affective Disorders Consultation Program at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. He is a graduate of Princeton University, Class of 1970, and Harvard Medical School, Class of 1974. He completed his psychiatric residency training at the Harvard Medical School –Massachusetts Mental Health Center program in 1978. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Vasile has published in diverse areas related to the assessment and treatment of depression and anxiety disorders. These publications have included topics such as the psychopharmacologic management of depression and anxiety disorders, biopsychosocial approaches to affective disorders consultation, and the use of brain imaging in the assessment of neuropsychiatric disorders. Dr. Vasile is a graduate of the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute, and is certified in Forensic Psychiatry. He is a past recipient of the Elvin V. Semrad Award for Excellence in Teaching at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center. He has presented an annual program on advances in the treatment of affective disorders for the Harvard Medical School Continuing Medical Education Program over the past 15 years. DISCLOSURE: Company: Pfizer, Forest, and Wyeth. Type of relationship: Speakers Bureau. Content area: Mood Disorders.

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MARK D. ARONSON, MD Reviewer

Bio and Photo Coming Soon. DISCLOSURE:

KERRY BLOOMINGDALE, MD Reviewer

Bio and Photo Coming Soon. DISCLOSURE:

JOHN MOONEY, MD Reviewer

John J. Mooney MD is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at HMS and a member of the Affective Disorders Consult Servicec at BIDMC. He is a graduate of Harvard College, Yale Medical School, and the psychiatric residency program at Mass. Mental Health Center. He has 20 publications on the pathophysiology of depressive disorders, and has a particular interest in cell signaling systems in depressive disorders. DISCLOSURE: Reported no relevant financial relationships with commercial entities.

CHRISTOPHER PALMER, MD Reviewer

Dr. Christopher Palmer is the Medical Director for the Department of Postgraduate and Continuing Education at McLean Hospital and a research physician in the Behavioral Psychopharmacology Research Laboratory and the Sleep Research Program, both at McLean Hospital. He is an Instructor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He conducts a private practice of psychiatry, specializing in treatment-resistant cases and also has significant teaching roles in a variety of settings, including continuing education conferences and medical student teaching at Harvard Medical School. DISCLOSURE:

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NUMBER OF CREDITS: 4 

Harvard Medical School is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Harvard Medical School designates this educational activity for a maximum of 4 AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Upon completion of the course you will get a certificate via e-mail within 2 weeks.

Click the image to view a sample of the certificate

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