Psychopharmacology: A Master Class 2025

Psychopharmacology: A Master Class 2025 is organized by University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Division of Continuing Medical Education and will be held from Feb 24 - 28, 2025 at Grand Beach Hotel, Miami Beach, Miami, Florida, United States of America.

Overview:
This seminar will begin with an updated review of modern neurobiology ranging from genomics, epigenetics and neurotransmitters systems to brain circuitry and imaging. The seminal role of child abuse and neglect in increased vulnerability to mood and anxiety disorders will be explored with a focus on the long-term persistent effects of early life trauma on the brain and the body. An update on the pathophysiology of the major mood and anxiety disorders will be described including new data on inflammation. The latest data on suicide will be presented including risk factors and strategies for prevention.

Treatment of  depression, anxiety, and women’s psychiatric disorders will be described. The evidence-based effectiveness of antipsychotic medications will be emphasized? as augmenting agents in major depression. Newer agents such as brexanolone, bupropion-dextromethorphan combination and augmenting medications including pramipexole for the treatment of mood disorders will be discussed with an emphasis on treatment-resistant depression including bipolar depression. Medications in development will also be described The benefits and risks of ketamine and esketamine will be explored as well as the uses of ECT and TMS.   A comprehensive review of  depression comorbid with medical illnesses will be highlighted, particularly the role of depression in cancer and cardiovascular illness and the necessity for treatment.

The neurobiological mechanisms of anxiety and anxiety-spectrum disorders (including GAD, OCD, and panic disorders) as well as their treatment will be reviewed with special emphasis on management of treatment resistant post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Advances in personalized or precision medicine will be a major focus of the course including both pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy. The controversy concerning the use of pharmacogenomic tests to predict antidepressant treatment response will be discussed in detail. Finally the burgeoning area of psychedelic medicine in psychiatry will be comprehensively reviewed.

The seminar will emphasize the establishment and importance of the therapeutic alliance when prescribing all psychotropic medications.

Objectives:
At the conclusion of this activity, learners will be able to:

• To assess the neurobiological mechanism and evidence-based treatment of depressive and anxiety spectrum disorders including PTSD
• Apply the latest advances in the neurobiology of psychiatric disorders and understand the potential role of pharmacogenomic testing in the selection of specific psychiatric medications;
• Evaluate treatment options for treatment resistant bipolar and unipolar depression including psychotherapies
• Determine when to implement switch versus augmentation strategies for treatment resistant depression
• Analyze the use of ketamine with benefits and hazards in treatment resistant depression
• Demonstrate when to use ECT and TMS for the treatment of depression
• Recognize the role of psychiatric medications during a woman’s life cycle: pregnancy, delivery, post-partum, nursing and menopause
• Analyze the role of psychopharmacology and psychotherapy in the treatment of PTSD
• Understand the current data base on the efficacy and side effect profile of psychedelic medications.