Tom Smith – Everything Psychopharmacology

Begin your journey with psychopharmacology through a foundational understanding of the science behind the clinical issues you see every day in your practice.

Module 1 uncovers:

• How psychopharmacology was “born”
• An enzymes purpose and why this is so important to psychopharmacology
• How the body makes serotonin
• When and why to give amphetamines
• Dopamine’s importance and what symptoms occur when the levels are unstable
• How the body uses homeostatic mechanisms to keep neurotransmitters in balance
• The theory of agonism and antagonism
• The DSM-5 and medications

In Module 2, you’ll begin to look at when you should use certain medications and how these medications are thought to work. With a better understanding of this process you will be able to explain to your clients WHY they are (or should be) taking certain medications. Included in this module, is a printable tool you can use to right away to improve your client compliance with medications.

Module 2 highlights:

• What it means when a drug is “new on the market”
• Strategies for when your client is taking their prescription incorrectly
• How antidepressants are thought to work
• Why we use cyclics and what side effects may be present

In the final module, you’ll discover more about how certain medications are thought to work and how you can use them to achieve the best outcomes for your clients. You’ll then learn what’s new, old, what is coming to market, and why you need to keep these things in mind for your clients.

In module 3 you will go over:

• How SSRIs are tolerated and common side effects
• Common antidepressants and why they are used
• Treatment strategies for “treatment resistant depression”
• Medicating Bipolar disorder with antianxiety agents, antidepressant medications, and antipsychotic drugs
• What you need to know about mood stabilizers
• ADHD medications — what’s new, old, stimulants vs non-stimulants and more
• Drug treatments for Alzheimer’s disease