Course Description
The Review Course is a knowledge-based continuing pharmacy education (CPE) activity designed for pharmacists to acquire factual knowledge. Whether a certification candidate or a currently certified individual, the purpose of the Review Course is to assist the practitioner in developing and maintaining contemporary knowledge and skills.
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.
This online version is excerpted from:
Mitchell, S. Neurodevelopmental, Disruptive, Impulse-Control and Conduct Disorders. In: Paxos, C, et al. AAPP Psychiatric Pharmacotherapy Review. 2026-2027 ed. Lincoln (NE): American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists; 2026.
Learning Objectives
- Describe the signs and symptoms, diagnostic criteria, and pathophysiology for neurodevelopmental, disruptive, impulse-control, and conduct disorders, including the listing of medications, substances, and diseases that can cause or worsen the psychiatric symptoms for these disorders.
- Explain the use of common rating scales for the screening, diagnosis, and monitoring of neurodevelopmental, disruptive, impulse-control, and conduct disorders.
- Discuss the efficacy of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment options (including natural products, if applicable) in the acute and long-term management of neurodevelopmental, disruptive, impulse-control, and conduct disorders.
- Outline the mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and pharmacogenetic properties (if applicable), adverse events, significant drug interactions, and warnings/precautions (including medical comorbidities, black box warnings, and REMS programs) and withdrawal symptoms for drugs used in neurodevelopmental, disruptive, impulse-control, and conduct disorders.
- Describe treatment guidelines and landmark clinical trials, including study design, strengths and weaknesses, and implications for practice for neurodevelopmental, disruptive, impulse-control, and conduct disorders.
- Select an evidence-based drug therapy regimen (drug, dose, schedule, and duration of therapy) for stabilizing symptoms and preventing relapse given the clinical presentation of a specific patient.
- Outline a plan for monitoring and managing the safety and efficacy of drug therapy.
- Describe the management of neurodevelopmental, disruptive, impulse-control, and conduct disorders in special populations (e.g., pregnancy/lactation, children, and older adults).
- Recognize the behavioral phenotypes, major medical complications, risk factors, pathogenesis, clinical course, and drug therapy treatment options for patients with the following syndromes:
- Down Syndrom
- Prader-Willi Syndrome
- Fragile X Syndrome
- Klinefelter’s Syndrome
- Rett's Syndrome
- Identify essential information to discuss during patient education about medication therapy and organizations that advocate and provide resources for individuals with neurodevelopmental, disruptive, impulse-control, and conduct disorders.
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
View biographical information
Sandra Mitchell, PharmD, BCPP, FAAPP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Psychiatry
VCU Health
Clinical Affiliate Associate Professor, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy
Richmond, Virginia
External Consultant Activities, Advisory Panels, Speakers Bureaus, etc.: Wolters Kluwer Consultant
My presentation will include discussion of off-label, experimental, and /or investigational use of drugs or device: ADHD-bupropioin, modafinil; ASD-haloperidol, fluphenazine, chlorpromazine, divalproex, N-acetylcysteine, amantadine, melatonin, omega-3 fatty acids, probiotics, zinc; Tics-risperidone, tiapride, sulpride, clonidine, guanfacine, olanzapine, quetiapine, ziprasidone, fluphenazine, botulinum toxin, metoclopramide, baclofen, levetiraacetam, IVIG, NAC, nicotine, riluzole, d-serine, ondansetorn, pramipexole, methylphenidate, desipramine; ODD/CD-antipsychotics, stimulants, Klinefelter's-ZYN002
Course Requirements
To receive ACPE credit for this session, you must:
- Register for this course.
- Complete the pre-test (if applicable) 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.
Continuing Education Credit and Disclosures
Activity Dates: 01/01/2026 - 12/31/2027
ACPE Contact Hours: 1.0
ACPE Numbers: 0284-0000-26-007-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.
The American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. The 2026-2027 Psychiatric Pharmacotherapy Review Course is a knowledge-based course and will provide 20 hours of continuing education credit. Additionally, the 2026-2027 Psychiatric Pharmacotherapy Review Course will provide 20 hours of BCPP Recertification credit. BCPP Recertification credit is earned and reported within the year the assessment is successfully completed.
AAPP owns the copyright, is licensed or has received permissions for use of, or is otherwise permitted to use copyrighted materials within any CPE activity. Authors and speakers are required to obtain necessary copyright permissions for content in CPE activities. AAPP complies with copyright laws and regulations.
View planning committee disclosures
Editorial Board
Professor of Practice, Sciences, and Health Outcomes Research
University of Maryland School of Pharmacy
Baltimore, MD
External Consultant Activities, Advisory Panels, Speakers Bureaus, etc.: Saladex Biomedical Consultant, Lexi-Comp Consultant/Reviewer
Educational Grants, Research Grants or Contracts: FDA/University of Maryland CERSI, Maryland Behavioral Health Department, NIH
Clinical Professor, Pharmacy Practice
Purdue University College of Pharmacy
West Lafayette, IN
External Consultant Activities, Advisory Panels, Speakers Bureaus, etc.: Project ECHO - Indiana University - Opioid Use Disorders - Expert Panelist, Tippecanoe County (Indiana) Public Defender's Office - case consultation, Psychopharmacology Consultation Team - Indiana University - Department of Child Services, Wolters-Kluwer/Lexi-Comp
Non-Financial Interests: Indiana Medicaid Drug Utilization Review (DUR) Board, Indiana Medicaid Mental Health Quality Advisory Committee (MHQAC), NAMI West Central Indiana, Tippecanoe County, Indiana, Board of Health
Professor, Pharmacy Practice
University of New England
Portland, ME
External Consultant Activities, Advisory Panels, Speakers Bureaus, etc.: I am a member of the New England Public Advisory Council (affiliated with the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review), I am a consultant for SAMHSA grant funded Opioid Response Network.
Educational Grants, Research Grants or Contracts: I am contracted as a subject matter expert for multiple Project ECHO communities in Northern New England that focus on OUD, AUD, and psychiatric conditions in older adults. These are hosted by the University of New Hampshire system; I am contracted as a SME for the Support for ME (Maine) SUD grant funded provider education and support program
Non-Financial Interests: Maine Independent Clinical Information Service Academic Detailing Advisory Committee, Member of the Maine's Gubernatorial Opioid Response Clinical Advisory Committee, Member of the Lunder-Dineen Time to Ask (about unhealthy drinking) Advisory Committee, Member of the Board of Directors of the Co-Occurring Collaborative Serving Maine, Member of the Maine Medical Professionals Health Program Advisory Committee, Chair of the Maine Prescription Monitoring Program Advisory Committee
All relevant relationships have been mitigated.
View disclaimer and disclosure of off-label use
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.
This activity may include discussions of products or devices that are not currently approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or are currently investigational.
In accordance with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it is disclosed that there is the potential for discussions concerning off-label uses of a commercial product/devices during this educational activity.
Any person who may contribute to the content of this continuing education activity must disclose significant relationships (and any known relationships of their spouse/partner) with commercial companies whose products or services are discussed in this activity. Significant relationships include receiving from a commercial company research grants, consultant fees, travel, other benefits, or having a self-managed equity interest in a company.
Disclosure of a relationship is not intended to suggest or condone any bias in any presentation but is made to provide participants with information that might be of potential importance to their evaluation of a presentation.
View fair balance and integrity statement
It is the policy of AAPP to ensure independence, balance, objectivity, scientific rigor, and integrity in continuing education activities. Those involved in the development of this continuing education activity have made all reasonable efforts to ensure that information contained herein is accurate in accordance with the latest available scientific knowledge at the time of accreditation of this continuing education activity. Information regarding drugs (e.g., their administration, dosages, contraindications, adverse reactions, interactions, special warnings, and precautions) and drug delivery systems is subject to change, however, and the reader is advised to check the manufacturer’s package insert for information concerning recommended dosage and potential problems or cautions prior to dispensing or administering the drug or using the drug delivery systems.
Fair balance is achieved through ongoing and thorough review of all materials produced by faculty, and all educational and advertising materials produced by supporting organizations, prior to educational offerings. Approval of credit for this continuing education activity does not imply endorsement by AAPP for any product or manufacturer identified.