Searching for Solutions

AAPP had a busy year advocating on behalf of the membership with Congress and the Administration amidst a rapidly changing federal landscape. Throughout the year, AAPP worked to advance the policy priorities outlined in the 2025 Health Policy Agenda. As the new year begins, we look back on the advocacy activities AAPP was engaged in last year with the expectation that 2026 will be full of activity once again.

#AAPP2026 Spotlight: Psychiatric and Neurologic Medication Pipeline, presented by Stephen R. Saklad, PharmD, BCPP. In this session, participants will learn about therapeutic advances in new and emerging psychiatric and neurologic medications and how these agents fit into current clinical practice. Join us at the 2026 AAPP Annual Meeting in Bellevue, WA, on Seattle’s Eastside, for this session! #AAPP #psychpharmacy #acpe #bcpp #bcpmp

#AAPP2026 Spotlight: The Bup Bulletin: Navigating Updates to Prescribing, presented by Lindsey Garner, PharmD, MBA, BCPS, BCPP. Treatment guidelines for psychiatric and neurologic conditions continue to advance, impacting how care is delivered and requiring psychiatric pharmacists to stay alert to new evidence. Psychiatric pharmacists will gain actionable insights to inform pharmacologic decision-making and confidently integrate new recommendations into everyday practice.

#AAPP2026 Spotlight: The Bup Bulletin: Navigating Updates to Prescribing, presented by Zachary Hill, PharmD, BCPP, MA. Buprenorphine prescribing continues to evolve, with recent updates to initiation guidance for extended-release subcutaneous formulations and growing interest in micro- and macro-dosing strategies.

#AAPP2026 Spotlight: The Mind-Body Connection: Integrating Psychiatric and Holistic Care in Fibromyalgia Management, presented by Emily Leppien, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP. This session will equip psychiatric pharmacists with the knowledge to recognize fibromyalgia symptoms, understand its neurobiological underpinnings, and evaluate both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment strategies.

#AAPP2026 Spotlight: Differences in Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI), Passive and Active Suicidal Ideation, presented by Ashley Perkins, PharmD. Accurately distinguishing between non-suicidal self-injury, passive suicidal ideation, and active suicidal ideation is essential for effective suicide risk assessment and intervention.

#AAPP2026 Spotlight: Medication Treatment of Social Anxiety Disorder: Beyond Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, presented by Franklin Schneier, MD Current clinical guidelines offer limited direction beyond the use of FDA-approved SSRIs and SNRIs, particularly regarding novel treatments like antipsychotics and ketamine.

#AAPP2026 Spotlight: Stick with It: An Update on New Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics, presented by Andy Williams, PharmD, BCPP, FAAPP. This presentation equips psychiatric pharmacists with the latest insights into newer LAIAs, highlighting key pharmacologic differences, dosing strategies, administration techniques, and storage requirements. Join us at the 2026 AAPP Annual Meeting in Bellevue, WA, on Seattle’s Eastside, for this session! #AAPP #psychpharmacy #acpe #bcpp #bcpmp

#AAPP2026 Spotlight: The Hidden Hangover: Managing Alcohol Use Disorder with Co-occurring Trauma, presented by Theresa Frey, PharmD, BCPP. Managing co-occurring alcohol use disorder (AUD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) presents unique clinical challenges that demand nuanced, integrated treatment strategies. This session will explore the high prevalence of co-occurrence, particularly in vulnerable populations, and the resulting impact on treatment engagement and outcomes.

#AAPP2026 Spotlight: Navigating Real Challenges: Applying Artificial Intelligence to Personalized Treatment Planning in Mental Health, presented by Andrea Sikora, PharmD, MSCR, FCCP, FCCM Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly emerging as a tool in mental health care, offering opportunities to enhance treatment planning, predict outcomes, and support clinical decision-making.

#AAPP2026 Spotlight: Midlife Mood Management: A Pharmacy-Led Approach to Menopausal Mental Health, presented by Lisa Miller, PharmD, MSCP, LCMHCA, NCC. The menopause transition is a critical period marked by hormonal shifts that can contribute to the onset or worsening of anxiety and depression. This session unpacks the science behind these symptoms, outlines who’s most at risk, and offers evidence-based treatment options that go beyond hormones.

#AAPP2026 Spotlight: Deprescribing Psychotropics in Older Adults with Neuropsychiatric Disorders, presented by Nina Vadiei, PharmD, BCPP. This session will educate psychiatric pharmacists on the current evidence to support the practice of deprescribing psychotropics in older adults and consider areas of ongoing investigation. Join us at the 2026 AAPP Annual Meeting in Bellevue, WA, on Seattle’s Eastside, for this session! #AAPP #psychpharmacy #acpe #bcpp #bcpmp

#AAPP2026 Spotlight: Reshaping Perspectives: The Link Between Stigma and Health Inequities in Mental Health, presented by Carolanne Wartman, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP. The session will underscore the importance of psychiatric pharmacists in advocating for patients with mental illness by fostering an environment free of judgment, recognizing and addressing personal and systemic biases, and employing evidence-based strategies to combat stigma.

#AAPP2026 Spotlight: Never Let a Good Crisis Go to Waste: What Pharmacists Need to Understand about Helping People in Crisis, presented by Jack Rozel, MD, MSL, DFAPA. Early psychosis presents a critical window to alter the long-term trajectory of schizophrenia, yet treatment decisions during this period are complex and highly individualized.

#AAPP2026 Spotlight: Intended And Unintended Outcomes After FDA Pediatric Antidepressant Warnings, presented by Stephen Soumerai, ScD. This session will examine the clinical trial data that prompted the warnings, evaluate both the safety intentions and unintended consequences on prescribing patterns and patient outcomes, and highlight future research needed to clarify risks and inform evidence-based practice.

#AAPP2026 Spotlight: Navigating Early Psychosis: Strategies for Optimal Antipsychotic Treatment Selection, presented by Deepak K. Sarpal, MD. Early psychosis presents a critical window to alter the long-term trajectory of schizophrenia, yet treatment decisions during this period are complex and highly individualized.

#AAPP2026 Spotlight: Overdose Prevention Centers: Research, Outcomes, and Clinical Relevance, presented by Brandon D.L. Marshall, PhD. Supervised consumption sites have been implemented in various countries and select U.S. jurisdictions with the goal of addressing overdose risk and connecting individuals to health care and social services.

#AAPP2026 Spotlight: Beyond the Price Tag: Cost-Effectiveness of Today’s Psychotropic Medications, presented by Vera Reinstein, PharmD, BCPS, FNCAP. Attendees will leave equipped to design treatment plans that integrate both therapeutic value and cost considerations, helping ensure access to high-impact care. Join us at the 2026 AAPP Annual Meeting in Bellevue, WA, on Seattle’s Eastside, for this session! #AAPP #psychpharmacy #acpe #bcpp #bcpmp

#AAPP2026 Spotlight: Repurposing GLP-1 Receptor Agonists for Substance Use Disorders, presented by Stephanie Weiss, MD, PhD. GLP-1 receptor agonists, traditionally used for metabolic conditions, are gaining attention for their potential to modulate reward pathways in addiction. This presentation explores the neurobiological rationale and emerging clinical evidence supporting their use in alcohol and other substance use disorders.

#AAPP2026 Spotlight: Beyond Childhood: Management of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Adults, presented by Gary Stobbe, MD. This session explores the epidemiology and progression of ASD across the lifespan, highlights common co-occurring conditions in adulthood, and reviews current evidence for medication management of core symptoms in adult populations. Join us at the 2026 AAPP Annual Meeting in Bellevue, WA, on Seattle’s Eastside, for this session! #AAPP #psychpharmacy #acpe #bcpp #bcpmp

#AAPP2026 Session Spotlight: Real World/Practical Insights in New Medications, presented by Kevin Kavanagh, PharmD, BCPP, Aph, Hejab J. Khan, PharmD, BCPP, and Hannah Wilkoff, PharmD, BCPP. Discover the evolving landscape of psychotropic medications and how new advancements are reshaping mental health treatment. Join us at the 2026 AAPP Annual Meeting in Bellevue, WA, on Seattle’s Eastside, for this session! #AAPP #psychpharmacy #acpe #bcpp #bcpmp