Course Description
Psychiatric symptoms are common in individuals with multiple sclerosis and can significantly worsen quality of life, functional outcomes, and disease management. This session will explore the prevalence and clinical presentation of neuropsychiatric comorbidities that frequently accompany multiple sclerosis. Participants will examine the safety and efficacy of pharmacologic treatment options while navigating the limited evidence available to guide clinical decision-making. Attendees will leave with effective strategies for selecting individualized treatment regimens that address co-occurring psychiatric symptoms while accounting for the unique challenges of managing patients with multiple sclerosis.
Learning Objectives
- Identify common psychiatric symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis.
- Analyze the safety and efficacy of treatment options for comorbid psychiatric symptoms in multiple sclerosis.
- Select a treatment regimen for an individual with co-occurring psychiatric symptoms and multiple sclerosis.
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
Michelle Rainka, PharmD, BCPP, CCRP
Clinical Pharmacist; Senior Director of Neuropharmacology; President
Dent Neurosciences Research Center, Onc.
Amherst, NY
Dr. Michelle Rainka is a Clinical Pharmacist with DENT’s Division of Neuropharmacology. She currently is an Adjunct Instructor in the School of Pharmacy at SUNY Buffalo. She has previously taught in the D’Youville Physician Assistant Pharmacology Class and St John Fisher School of Pharmacy classes.
In 2015, she was invited to teach at ChongQing Medical University School of Pharmacy in ChongQing, China as a visiting scholar. She serves as a clinical preceptor for Doctor of Pharmacy candidates and Residents. In 2011, she was named Outpatient Care Preceptor of the Year by the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy. In 2015, she received the Stephen H Kelly Award from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Upstate NY Chapter.
Dr. Rainka sees patients with both psychiatric and neurological conditions at DENT for Medication Therapy Management and for clinical research. She is an investigator on numerous phase I-IV clinical trials and has co-authored several papers and abstracts in peer-reviewed journals. She has given numerous presentations and has been interviewed in Western NY on radio and television.
Dr. Rainka has served on the Board of DENT’s research affiliate, Dent Neurosciences Research Center, Inc., as member, secretary, and currently as President. Previously, she has served on the Board of Directors for the Western NY Alzheimer’s Association and as Board Secretary. She has been a member of PAWNY (The Pharmacists Association of Western NY), ACRP, SOCRA, and AAPP. In 2020, she because a Board Certified Clincial Pharmacist (BCPP). She is a Fraternity Advisor for the professional pharmacy fraternity, Lambda Kappa Sigma. She was named Outstanding Female Pharmacist of the Year by Lambda Kappa Sigma, Alpha Theta Chapter in 2013 and Alumni of the year Lambda Kappa Sigma, Alpha Theta Chapter in 2010.
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 Dates: 4/5/2027-4/5/2030
ACPE Contact Hours: 1.0
ACPE Number: 0284-0000-##-###-###-P (Application)
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.
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AAPP 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.
Unlabeled Use Disclosure: Faculty of this CE activity may include discussions of products or devices that are not currently labeled for use by the FDA. The faculty have been informed of their responsibility to disclose to the audience if they will be discussing off-label or investigational uses (any uses not approved by the FDA) of products or devices. The faculty, planners, and American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists do not endorse the use of any product outside of the FDA labeled indications. Medical professionals should not utilize the procedures, products, or diagnosis techniques discussed during this activity without evaluation of their patient for contraindications or dangers of use.
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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.