Registration Options

Activity Dates: 10/06/2022 - 10/06/2025

Session Time and Location

The live session is complete.

Target Audience

If you are a pharmacist, nurse practitioner or other healthcare professional involved in the comprehensive medication management of psychiatric and/or neurological patients, we invite you to participate in this online course.

Session Summary

Despite advancements in new treatments for major depressive disorder, individual therapies and accepted early treatment strategies continue to be associated with remission rates that fail to meet the desired outcomes. Treatments have expanded beyond the traditional pharmacologic options of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) to include targeted receptor effects at both serotonergic and noradrenergic receptors, including receptor modulation. While both “old” and “new” treatments are effective and demonstrate response, a large number of those treated will continue to demonstrate a lack of optimal response or treatment resistance.

Data from the landmark STAR*D trials taught that only modest rates of remission were able to be achieved with traditional treatments, switch, and augmentation strategies that were commonly employed. Since the STAR*D studies, a number of new treatments have been developed and marketed along with the expanded use of second-generation antipsychotics in patients not achieving an optimal positive response to single agent therapy. In this program, we will review the progression of antidepressant development, traditional treatment approaches, and new considerations on how best to help patients achieve remission.

Course Requirements

To receive ACPE credit for this session, you must:

  • Sign in (or create a FREE account).
  • Register for this course.
  • Complete the pre-test before starting the activity.
  • Review the full content of the activity and reflect upon its teachings.
  • Complete the post-test at the end of the activity no later than the closing activity date.
  • Complete the evaluation at the end of the activity.
  • If necessary, complete the post-test retest no later than the closing activity date.
  • Receive a passing grade (70%).
  • Provide the necessary details in your profile to ensure correct reporting by AAPP to CPE Monitor.

Participants in this course must complete an examination and achieve a score of 70% or greater. Up to two exam attempts are provided to each participant. Successful completion of the course also requires the completion of a course evaluation. Upon successful completion, ACPE credit is reported immediately to CPE Monitor although transcripts can be retrieved by participants online at https://aapp.org/mycpnp/transcript/acpe.

Faculty Information and Disclosures

Christoph U. Correll, MD
Steven C. Stoner, PharmD, BCPP

View biographical information and disclosures

Learning Objectives

  1. Outline traditional treatment approaches for major depression.
  2. Identify gaps in medication management of depression that prevents patients from achieving optimal outcomes and reaching remission.
  3. Explain mechanistic theories as to how different second-generation antipsychotics offer effective treatment options in patients who do not respond favorably to antidepressant monotherapy.
  4. Summarize the findings of available clinical trial data regarding the safety and efficacy of second-generation antipsychotics as add-on treatments to existing antidepressant therapy.

Continuing Education Credit and Disclosures

Activity Dates: 10/06/2022 - 10/06/2025
ACPE Contact Hours: 1
ACPE Number: 0284-0000-22-080-H01-P (Knowledge)
Nursing Credit Reminder: Note that ACPE credit is accepted for certification renewal.

ACPEThe College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.

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Grant Support

Supported by an educational grant from Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. and Lundbeck