37th Psychiatric Pharmacotherapy Update • 2025

• Evaluations for CE credit: Learners must complete the online evaluation for each session attended in order to receive credit. Once evaluations are completed, pharmacy credit is sent to the NABP profile entered during registration (to double-check the NABP information and date of birth, please see the "My Profile" link at the top right of this page). For all other professions, sessions are added to a downloadable certificate as session evaluations are completed. To access the certificate, click the "View/Print CE credit" link at the top of this page. Note: the evaluations only become live at the scheduled time for the session. If the speaker were to finish early, know that the evaluation will only open at the scheduled time. See the Continuing Education Credit tab below this one for additional information.

• Conference Materials: Slides used in the presentations can be found in the tabs below for each session. Content slides are uploaded to this site no sooner than the week of the live program, once the speaker has submitted the final version. If a speaker changes or updates the slides, they will be re-uploaded. To access updated slides, simply refresh this page, and the new links will appear in the tabs below.

UT Austin is one of the nation's first ACPE CPD Providers. This means you can now earn an additional 10 hours of CPE credit by participating in and completing a CPD Cycle over the next year. This may also count towards the BPS-certified pharmacists' recertification CPD requirement.  Participation in CPD at this year's conference is optional and only available for those who attend live (in-person or via live broadcast). Those who register to participate later via on-demand videos are not eligible. To learn more, open the CPD green tabs of the program.  Please note, you will still be able to complete all traditional CE sessions as normal if you decline to participate in CPD.

1. Reflect
2. Plan
3. Learn
4. Apply
5. Evaluate.

• Assess your current practice: Review your current knowledge, skills, and professional behaviors related to Psychiatric Pharmacotherapy.
• Identify gaps: Pinpoint 1–3 specific areas or questions (based on your current patients/practice) where you need to improve your knowledge or skills to enhance patient care.
• For CPD Credit you must complete this survey by Monday, October 27.

• Formulate a Learning Goal: Based on your reflection in Step 1, create up to four clear goals for lifelong career learning.  You will be asked to give your goals simple names to use later, and to describe the goals in detail.
• Sample Goals: Goals may be simple or extensive; it is completely up to you how to state your goals.  We recommend using the content from the sessions to develop long-term goals for learning and improving patient treatment on topics that are most relevant to you.
• For CPD Credit you must complete the PLAN survey by Monday, November 24.

• Refine Objectives: Translate your learning goal from Step 2 into 1–2 SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) objectives that focus on what you will DO or APPLY in your practice over the next six months. (Example: "By April 2026, I will implement a new screening tool for metabolic syndrome in 50% of my current long-term antipsychotic patients, based on the literature reviewed in the conference.")
• For CPD Credit you must complete the LEARN survey by Monday, November 24.

• Timeline: You will receive a prompt to complete the "Step 4: Apply" survey six months after the conference (April 2026).
• Documentation: Access the online survey tab labeled "Step 4: Apply." In this survey, you will document your efforts to implement your SMART objective(s) set in Step 3.
• Practice Change: Describe how you have applied the knowledge/skills gained from the conference into your daily practice. Provide examples of new tools used, changes in patient counseling, workflow adjustments, or discussions with interprofessional team members.

• Timeline: You will receive a final prompt to complete the "Step 5: Evaluate" survey one year after the conference (October 2026).
• Documentation: Access the online survey tab labeled "Step 5: Evaluate." In this final survey, you will critically evaluate your CPD experience.
• Outcomes & Impact: Answer these questions:
  • Were your SMART objectives met? If yes, how do you know? If no, why not?
  • What was the impact of your application on patient care or your professional competence (e.g., did it improve patient adherence, reduce an adverse event, or increase your confidence in a specific area)?
  • What new learning needs or goals have arisen from this application and evaluation process? (This leads back into the Reflect phase, completing the CPD cycle.)

• The 10 CPE credits earned through this CPD program are specifically designed to meet BPS recertification requirements for the new self-reported Continuing Professional Development (CPD) pathway.
• The successful completion of all five steps (Reflect, Plan, Learn, Apply, and Evaluate) is required to receive the maximum 10 BPS-recognized CPD units (credits).
• Keep a copy of your completed surveys and reflections, as BPS may require this documentation for audit purposes. You will be able to download each survey as you complete them and use as a record for upload into your myBPS account.  So be sure to keep these surveys and documents updated!
• For more information on BPS CPD, see the BPS website.

PLAN (During the Event)

• Journal Updates: You might already read specific journals and sources regularly to stay current on the latest treatments. Set your CPD goals to get even more out of how you learn!
• Annual Conferences: Perhaps you already attend professional conferences or even volunteer for leadership roles with those groups. Set your CPD goals to enhance your learning at your annual conferences!
• Projects at Work: You may already be developing processes or collecting data to improve your work. Use your CPD goals as a plan to make measurable changes that enhance your current practice!
• Work-Life Balance: You might already have a process that helps you reduce stress and balance your work and personal life. You can set your CPD goals around activities that keep you balanced and ready to be the best pharmacist you can be!

• Something You’ve Always Wanted to Do…: Are there areas of practice or professional leadership you've always wanted to explore but haven't? Set a long-term goal and then outline the first action steps toward that goal in your CPD plan!
• Career Changes: Is there a career advancement or change you've wanted to make? Set your CPD goals to start working toward the career you truly desire!
• Taking Care of Yourself: Have you felt burned out, or feel like you're on that path? Set CPD goals to prioritize self-care and improve your work-life integration. You can set a CPD goal for new self-care routines or to expand on what you already do.
• Go for that Leadership Role: Have you always wanted to run for office in a professional organization? Set your CPD goals to begin your leadership journey!
• Improve Skills: Can you identify gaps in your skillsets for communication, leadership, use of technology, or any other healthcare-related skills? Use your CPD goals to set a path for learning and improvement!

• Define pain types and their common pathophysiological mechanisms and characteristics
• Discuss the connection of chronic pain conditions and co-occurring depression and anxiety
• Review current literature for the treatment of anxiety and depression with co-occurring chronic pain
• Apply patient factors to develop appropriate treatment recommendations

• Discuss the risk factors for dementias
• Describe the prevention strategies for dementias
• Enumerate the current FDA approved treatments for dementias

• Discuss evidenced-based treatment for difficult to treat depression
• Discuss new evidence that may change traditional treatments – including transcranial magnetic stimulation, ketamine and other agents

• Discuss federal anti-discrimination laws that protect people with substance use disorder
• Identify situations where people’s rights may be violated
• Recognize best practices to reduce legal violations and respond to violations if they occur

• Review literature updates and guidelines for treatment of the aging patient with bipolar disorder.
• Understand appropriate monitoring and complications of valproic acid and lithium in older adults.
• Recognize accurate screening and diagnosis of mixed symptoms in the older adult and their subsequent management.

• Review evidence-based guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of TD and how to balance the benefits of utilizing antipsychotics vs the risk of developing TD

• Discuss the role pediatric physicians and other primary care clinicians can play in supporting patients with potential psychiatric disorders need for screening and when to bring in psychiatric specialists
• Describe how to build self-efficacy in pediatric physicians and other primary care clinicians in identifying and treatment and referring patients with psychiatric disorders
• Outline different methods to support physicians and other primary care clinicians in providing mental health care for youth

• Identify the main symptoms necessary for a diagnosis of anxiety in children and adolescents and the main differential diagnosis.
• Describe treatments available, pharmacology, therapy, lifestyle changes
• List the principles of deprescribing medication when necessary, or at the conclusion of the treatment

• Discuss FDA removing the REMS requirement for clozapine
• Discuss updated monitoring requirements and safety information