Nina Vadiei, PharmD, BCPP, Clinical Associate Professor
The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy, San Antonio State Hospital
The AAPP Annual Meeting typically hosts presentations on topics related to psychiatric pharmacotherapy. Expert speakers are often BCPPs, psychiatrists, or advanced psychiatric providers. This year’s session on Contraceptive Care in Psychiatry was unique in that it provided members education on a non-psychiatric topic that is nonetheless frequently encountered in psychiatric practice environments. Given patients with mental illness often face barriers in accessing multiple treatment services, psychiatric pharmacists need to be knowledgeable on how to initiate contraception for patients and/or engage in discussions with patients and prescribers on how to confidently determine the optimal contraceptive option based on an individual’s treatment goals. Familiarity with the advantages and drawbacks of different contraceptive methods enables pharmacists to consider multiple factors when choosing the most suitable options for patients with psychiatric conditions.
Dr. Veronica Vernon, the speaker for the AAPP Contraceptive Care session, is the creator of the first gynecology pharmacist position at the Indianapolis VA. Since establishing this role, she’s managed contraception for many women and gender-diverse Veterans and is involved with teaching VA medical providers across the country on sexual and reproductive health topics. As a strong advocate for reproductive health, Dr. Vernon led efforts in Indiana to pass pharmacist-prescribed contraception legislation in 2023. AAPP could not have asked for a more credible speaker to educate our members on how to provide contraceptive care for patients.
Dr. Vernon delivered a highly engaging morning session, captivating members with her infectious, high-energy; not to mention her fabulous bright pink jumpsuit which perfectly matched her fun and lively personality. Through a series of engaging case vignettes, clinical pearls, and case-based multiple-choice questions, members left the presentation feeling more knowledgeable on how to compare the different safety/efficacy profiles of the various contraceptive methods when used in individuals with psychiatric disorders. Cases provided multiple examples of the types of patient-specific factors that should be considered when forming a treatment assessment/plan regarding contraception use, such as potential drug-drug or drug-disease interactions, and patient-specific beliefs/goals that may influence treatment adherence. Pharmacists left inspired and prepared to initiate discussions about contraception with their patients and/or treatment teams, and confidently recommend patient-centered treatment options to reduce the risk of unintended pregnancies.