Discover the critical intersection of neurology and psychiatry in autoimmune encephalitis, a condition where immune system dysregulation leads to inflammation of the brain, often presenting with complex psychiatric symptoms. Autoimmune encephalitis is often underrecognized, misdiagnosed, and inadequately treated. This presentation will equip psychiatric pharmacists with the knowledge to identify early signs and symptoms, understand the inflammatory process involved, and choose appropriate first and second-line treatments.
Opening remarks will be streamed before this session.
Following this session, the FAAPP Awards Presentation will be streamed.
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.
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.
Faculty Information
View biographical information
Genalynne Mooneyham, MD, MS
General Pediatrics/Adult Psychiatry/Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Medical Director, NIMH Autoimmune Brain Disorders Program
NIMH Pediatric Psychiatry Inpatient Services Director
Office of the Clinical Director, National Institute of Mental Health
Associate Research Physician, NIH Intramural Research Program
Dr. Mooneyham is a Medical Officer and Associate Research Physician at the National Institutes of Health where she serves as the Medical Director of the NIMH Autoimmune Brain Disorders Program.
Dr. Mooneyham completed a triple board residency at Indiana University School of Medicine, and she is board certified in General Pediatrics, Adult Psychiatry, and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.
After training, Dr. Mooneyham was on faculty at Duke University School of Medicine (2016-2020) where she served as the Director for the Pediatric Consultation & Liaison Psychiatry Service within Duke Children’s Hospital, Co-Director for the Pediatric Autoimmune Brain Diseases Clinic, and Psychiatry Clerkship Director for the Department of Psychiatry.
Dr. Mooneyham was recruited to the NIMH in 2020 and her translational research efforts are centered on defining best practice in the collaborative care for pediatric patients with Autoimmune Encephalitis. Dr. Mooneyham is the Inpatient Services Director for the NIMH inpatient pediatric psychiatry unit at the Clinical Center. She also serves as an Attending Physician on the Psychiatry Consultation-Liaison Service within the NIH Clinical Center. Dr. Mooneyham is spearheading a pediatric translational research program exploring the immune system’s role in Autoimmune Encephalitis and other immune mediated causes of psychosis. Dr. Mooneyham’s research includes deep clinical phenotyping along with the application of genomic technologies and immunophenotyping in patients with otherwise undiagnosed neuropsychiatric conditions.
Learning Objectives
- Identify the signs and symptoms of autoimmune encephalitis and their relevance to the differential diagnosis for a variety of psychiatric presentations.
- Describe the role of inflammation in autoimmune encephalitis and how it relates to psychiatric symptoms.
- Select first and second-line management options for the treatment of autoimmune encephalitis.
- Discuss treatment considerations for special populations with autoimmune encephalitis.
Continuing Education Credit and Disclosures
Activity Dates: 04/28/2025 - 04/28/2028
ACPE Contact Hours: 1.25
ACPE Number: 0284-0000-25-005-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.
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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.
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.