First Episode Psychosis: Early Identification and Intervention

Course Description

Given the heterogeneous presentation of psychotic syndromes, it is important to conceptualize a broad differential diagnosis for any psychotic presentation, particularly for young adults and early stages of psychosis. Importantly, early identification and intervention for prodromal psychosis is thought to decrease the risk of developing a full psychotic syndrome, and targeted interventions for first episode psychosis (FEP) have demonstrated important improvements in symptom reduction, quality of life, and vocational and educational engagement compared to treatment as usual. Antipsychotic medications are the first line pharmacologic treatment for FEP, while use in prodromal psychosis is still controversial. Antipsychotics have demonstrated effectiveness, however long-term head-to-head comparisons between agents are limited, especially in FEP. Best practices for treatment of FEP incorporate support from a multi-disciplinary team that offers medication management alongside a variety of psychosocial and psychotherapeutic interventions.

Learning Objectives

  1. Identify the signs of prodromal and early psychosis.
  2. Review the differential diagnoses for first episode psychosis.
  3. Compare pharmacologic treatment options for first episode psychosis.
  4. Recognize best practices of care for first episode psychosis.

Target Audience

If you are a pharmacist, nurse practitioner, or other health care professional involved in the comprehensive medication management of individuals living with mental health and/or substance use disorders, we invite you to participate in this online course.

Faculty

Ashley Overley, MD
View biographical information

Ashley Overley, MD
CEO, Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center
Assistant Clinical Professor, Indiana University School of Medicine
Indianapolis, IN

Dr. Ashley Overley is chief executive officer of Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center and vice president of mental health operations at Eskenazi Health. Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center is Indiana’s first community mental health center and offers strengths-based and family- and community-centered inpatient and outpatient programs that use the Recovery Model of treatment for emotional and
behavioral problems, including substance abuse. In 2021, Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center attained nationally recognized status as a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC).
 
Under Dr. Overley’s leadership, Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center became a partner in the innovative Mobile Crisis Assistance Team, a co-response program that partners Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers with licensed mental health workers to respond to emergency runs involving mental health concerns and/or substance misuse.
 
Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center was selected to manage and develop the programming for the Assessment & Intervention Center (AIC), a first-of-its-kind facility and flagship of Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett’s criminal justice reform efforts. The AIC, which opened in December 2020, provides mental health and substance use assessments with a goal of connecting individuals to appropriate community resources.
 
In partnership with Community Health Network Behavioral Health, Indiana University School of Social Work and the University of Indianapolis, Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center is proudly part of a workforce development program called the Behavioral Health Academy (BHA). The goal of the BHA is to increase the number of dual-licensed LCSWs and LCACs in Central Indiana by attracting high-quality Master of Social Work (MSW) student candidates and offering an enhanced practicum experience.
 
In addition to her leadership responsibilities, Dr. Overley is a staff psychiatrist for the Dr. Alan & Diane Breier Prevention and Recovery Center for Early Psychosis at Eskenazi Health (Dr. Alan & Diane Breier PARC), a research center and full-service clinic for young people in early stages of psychotic disorders. Dr. Alan & Diane Breier PARC is part of the Sandra Eskenazi Center for Brain Care Innovation. Dr. Overley is also an assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at Indiana University School of Medicine.
 
Dr. Overley previously worked as chief medical officer for quality at Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center and as the assistant medical director of the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction. She is a graduate of the Indiana University School of Medicine, where she served as chief resident for the psychiatry residency program. She also completed a fellowship in public psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center in New York and a graduate certificate in innovation and implementation science at Indiana University. She received the outstanding educator award from the Indiana University School of Medicine in June 2013.
 
Dr. Overley is a diplomat of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and a member of the American Association of Community Psychiatry and the American Psychiatric Association. She currently serves on the advisory board for the AIC and is a board member for the Metropolitan Emergency Services Agency and the Immigrant Welcome Center. She regularly serves as a speaker and panelist, particularly on the topics of early psychosis and community mental health.

Course Requirements

To receive ACPE credit for this session, you must:

  • Register for this course.
  • Review the full content of the activity and reflect upon its teachings.
  • Complete the evaluation at the end of the activity.
  • Provide the necessary details in your profile to ensure correct reporting by AAPP to CPE Monitor.

Continuing Education Credit and Disclosures

Activity Date: 04/17/2023
ACPE Contact Hours: 1
ACPE Number: 0284-0000-23-028-H01-P (Knowledge)
Nursing Credit Reminder: Note that ACPE credit is accepted for ANCC Certification Renewal and AANPCB advanced practice provider content. For specific questions related to your organization's acceptance of ACPE continuing education units, please contact your organization directly.

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

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View planning committee disclosures

2023 Program Committee and Recertification Editorial Board

Elayne D. Ansara, PharmD, BCPP, BCPS
Program Committee Chair
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
Veteran Health Indiana
Indianapolis, IN
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Jolene R. Bostwick, PharmD, BCPP, BCPS
Program Administrative Chair
Assistant Dean for Co-Curriculum and Professional Development & Clinical Professor
University of Michigan College of Pharmacy
Ann Arbor, MI
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose

Bridget Bradley, PharmD, BCPP
Associate Professor
Pacific University School of Pharmacy
Hillsboro, OR
External Consultant Activities, Advisory Panels, Speakers Bureaus, etc.: ACCP PSAP May 2021, Neurology and Psychiatry Book
Educational Grants, Research Grants or Contracts: NACDS Community Pharmacy Residency Grant

Austin R. Campbell, PharmD, BCPP
Clinical Assistant Professor
UMKC School of Pharmacy at MU
Columbia, MO
External Consultant Activities, Advisory Panels, Speakers Bureaus, etc.: Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. Speakers Bureau
Financial Interests: Up To Date Contributor "Pharmacotherapy for schizophrenia: Long-acting injectable antipsychotic drugs"
Non-Financial Interests: Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes, Show-Me ECHO Project

Chelsea N. Carr, PharmD, BCPP
Advanced Practice Pharmacist - Psychiatry
University of Maryland School of Pharmacy
Catonsville, MD
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Dana Chiulli, PharmD, BCPP
Clinical Pharmacist - Mental Health
VISN 06 Mental Health Clinical Resource Hub
Savannah, GA
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Jordan Cooler Haygood, PharmD, BCPP
Clinical Assistant Professor
University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy
Columbia, SC
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Marissa Cullen, PharmD, BCPP
Clinical Pharmacist
UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital
Pittsburgh, PA
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Beth DeJongh, PharmD, BCPP, BCPS
Recertification Editorial Board Chair
Pharmacist
Concordia University Wisconsin
Mequon, WI
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose

Bennett J. Doughty, PharmD, BCPP, BCPS
Clinical Assistant Professor
Binghamton University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Binghamton, NY
External Consultant Activities, Advisory Panels, Speakers Bureaus, etc.: Achieve CE - CE provided for compensation, PsychU- Speaker's Bureau
Non-Financial Interests: New York State American College of Clinical Pharmacists Executive Board

Traci M. Dutton, PharmD, BCPP, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Mental Health; Program Director - PGY2 Psychiatric Pharmacy Residency
VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System
Murfreesboro, TN
External Consultant Activities, Advisory Panels, Speakers Bureaus, etc.: Member of VA PBM Educational Advisory Committee
which oversees Board Certification Study Groups

Megan J. Ehret, PharmD, BCPP, MS
BCPP Program Director
Professor
University of Maryland
Baltimore, MD
External Consultant Activities, Advisory Panels, Speakers Bureaus, etc.: Psych U Section Advisor, Lexi-Comp Consultant/Reviewer,
SMI Adviser; Pharmacist Consultant
Educational Grants, Research Grants or Contracts: FDA/University of Maryland CERSI, Maryland Behavioral Health Department, NIH

Kimberly Ehrhard, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacist, Psychiatry
The University of Kansas Health System
Kansas City , KS
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Michelle L. Geier, PharmD, BCPP
Psychiatric Clinical Pharmacist Supervisor
San Francisco Department of Public Health
San Francisco, CA
External Consultant Activities, Advisory Panels, Speakers Bureaus, etc.: Weitzman Institute Project ECHO Faculty
Abigail Hampton, PharmD, BCPP
Psychiatric Clinical Pharmacist - Ambulatory
University of Kansas Health System
Kansas City, KS
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Courtney A. Iuppa, PharmD, BCPP
Clinical Pharmacy Manager & Residency Program Director
Center for Behavioral Medicine
Kansas City, MO
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Archana R. Jhawar, PharmD, BCPP
Clinical Pharmacist
Jesse Brown VAMC/ UIC College of Pharmacy
Chicago, IL
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Kayla D. Johnson, PharmD, BCPP, BCPS
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Thompsons Station, TN
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Farah E. Khorassani, PharmD, BCPP
Associate Clinical Professor
St. John's University
Queens, NY
External Consultant Activities, Advisory Panels, Speakers Bureaus, etc.: Consultant- Alkermes (Sept 2021)
Dongmi Kim, PharmD, BCPP, BCPS
Assistant Clinical Professor
Fairleigh Dickinson University School of Pharmacy
Florham Park, NJ
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Jamie C. Kneebusch, PharmD, BCPP, BCPS
Assistant Clinical Faculty
UC San Diego, Skaggs School of Pharmacy
La Jolla, CA
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Erin D. Knox, PharmD, BCPP
Director of Experiential Education
UCI School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
Irvine, CA
Non-Financial Interests: Santa Ana Community College, Pharmacy Technology Program, Advisory Committee
Lauren E. Leiby, PharmD, BCPP
Behavioral Health Patient Care Pharmacist
Nationwide Childrens Hospital
Columbus, OH
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Amber R. Lemons, PharmD, BCPP
Behavioral Health Pharmacist
Denver Health Medical Center
Denver, CO
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Linda D. Logan, PharmD, BCACP, BCPP, BCPS
Public Service Associate
University of Georgia
Athens, GA
Educational Grants, Research Grants or Contracts: HRSA Graduate Psychology Education Grant, CPNP Foundation Student Grant (Advisor),
UGA College Pharmacy Ansel Fund
Monica Mathys, PharmD, BCGP, BCPP
Professor
Texas Tech University School of Pharmacy
Dallas, TX
Non-Financial Interests: CPNP Foundation Board member

Lindsey N. Miller, PharmD, BCPP
Clinical Pharmacist and Associate Professor
Lipscomb University and Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital
Nashville, TN
External Consultant Activities, Advisory Panels, Speakers Bureaus, etc.: Social Security Administration- Board of Adjudication: Presentations on various disease states
Financial Interests: Pharmacy Times Panel Discussant- Payer Forum Sponsored by Alkermes (January 2020),
Pharmacy Times- CE Presentation Sponsored by Otsuka (August 2019)

Melissa Mitchell, PharmD, BCGP, BCPP, BCPS
Assistant Director of Pharmacy;Residency Program Director
RUHS Medical Center
Moreno Valley , CA
External Consultant Activities, Advisory Panels, Speakers Bureaus, etc.: Neurocrine Speakers Bureau - Ingrezza, Janssen Speakers Bureau - Spravato,
Otsuka - PsychU.org Speaker
Thea R. Moore, PharmD, BCPP
Associate Professor
University of South Florida
Tampa, FL
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Jessica L. Mulhollan, PharmD, BCPP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Substance Use Disorders and Mental Health Clinical Pharmacy Supervisor
Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center
Cleveland, OH
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Kristen Neumeister, PharmD, BCPP
Clinical Pharmacist- Mental Health
John Peter Smith Hospital
Fort Worth, TX
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Megan O'Connell, PharmD, BCPP
Advanced Practice Pharmacist - Psychiatry
University of Maryland - Clifton T. Perkins Hospital
jessup, MD
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Melissa C. Palmer, PharmD, BCPP, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Mental Health
Alaska VA Healthcare System
Anchorage, AK
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Haley Pals, PharmD, BCPP
Substance Use Disorder/Psychiatric Clinical Pharmacist
Tomah VA Medical Center
Tomah, WI
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Brittany L. Parmentier, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP
Clinical Assistant Professor
University of Texas at Tyler
Tyler, TX
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Jake R. Peters, PharmD, BCPP, BCPS
Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice/Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Psychiatry
Butler University College of Pharmacy/Indiana University Health
Indianapolis, IN
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Lindsey Peters, PharmD, BCPS
Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Ohio Northern University
Ada, OH
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Sarah J. Popish, PharmD, BCPP
Academic Educator
Department of Veterans Affairs
Vallejo, CA
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Nina Vadiei, PharmD, BCPP
Assistant Professor
University of Arizona Colleges of Pharmacy and Medicine
Tucson, AZ
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Heidi J. Wehring, PharmD, BCPP
Adjunct Associate Professor of Psychiatry
Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine
Baltimore, MD
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Kara R. Wong, PharmD, BCPP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Mental Health; PGY2 Psychiatric Pharmacy Residency Program Director
Minneapolis VA Health Care System
Minneapolis, MN
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose

All relevant relationships have been mitigated.

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Off-Label Use: This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA (see faculty information). The opinions expressed in the educational activity do not necessarily represent the views of AAPP and any educational partners. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

Disclaimer: Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient’s conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

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