Harvard Psychopharmacology: A Master Class 2023

Overview

Harvard Psychopharmacology: A Master Class 2023 is a comprehensive two-day course originally held April 28–29, 2023, designed for practicing clinicians, clinical researchers, and trainees in psychiatry. This course emphasizes treatment approaches for typical psychiatric patients, including those who are difficult to treat or treatment-resistant. It covers advances in psychopharmacology such as genetic testing, therapeutic drug monitoring, novel drug combinations, and emerging treatment strategies.

On-demand psychiatry education — accessible anytime, anywhere.

Format: Videos + PDF
Total size: Not specified

Agenda

This course provides in-depth presentations on clinical and neurobiological aspects of psychopharmacology, delivered by expert faculty. Sessions address treatment strategies for a broad range of psychiatric conditions and associated patient populations.

• Registration
• Welcome Remarks — Carl Salzman, MD
• Neurobiology for the Practicing Clinician: Understanding Brain Function and its Relevance to Drug Treatment in Psychiatry — Matcheri Keshavan, MD
• Mechanisms of Action and the Development of New Antidepressants — Alan Schatzberg, MD
• Psychopharmacology of Childhood and Adolescent Depression — Karen Dineen Wagner, MD, PhD
• Coffee Break
• Current Treatment for Schizophrenia: Prodrome, First Episode, Relapse and New Treatment Possibilities — Matcheri Keshavan, MD
• What You Should Really Know About the Treatment of Mania and Bipolar Depression — Roscoe Brady, MD
• Panel Discussion — Roscoe Brady, MD, Matcheri Keshavan, MD, Carl Salzman, MD, Alan Schatzberg, MD, Karen Dineen Wagner, MD, PhD
• Lunch
• Brain Inflammation in Neuropsychiatry — Paulo Lizano, MD
• Neural Circuitry Based Treatments in Psychiatry — Roscoe Brady, MD
• Coffee Break
• Decision Making in the Treatment of Resistant Psychiatric Disorders: From Blood Levels to Dosing to Treatment Combinations — Stephen Stahl, MD
• Panel Discussion — Roscoe Brady, MD, Paulo Lizano, MD, Stephen Stahl, MD
• Rational Use of Benzodiazepines in Anxiety Spectrum Disorders — Carl Salzman, MD
• Sleep in Psychiatric Disorders — Robert Stickgold, PhD, Anthony (Tony) Cunningham, PhD
• Coffee Break
• Digital Phenotyping in Psychiatry and Psychopharmacology — John Torous, MD
• Difficult to Treat Patients: Borderline Personality Disorder, OCD, and Eating Disorders — Carl Salzman, MD
• Panel Discussion — Carl Salzman, MD, John Torous, MD, Robert Stickgold, PhD, Anthony (Tony) Cunningham, PhD
• Lunch
• Effective Treatment of Substance Use Disorders — Kevin Hill, MD
• The Psychopharmacology of the Reproductive Life Cycle: Premenstrual, Pregnancy, Lactation, and Menopause — Catherine Lager, MD, Marcela Almeida, MD
• Coffee Break
• Older People Are Not All the Same: Differing Approaches for Younger Old and Older Old — Carl Salzman, MD
• Panel Discussion — Carl Salzman, MD, Catherine Lager, MD, Marcela Almeida, MD, Kevin Hill, MD

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Evaluate the effects of neurotransmitters and genes on psychotropic drug treatment.
• Study the interface between neurology and psychiatry.
• Describe the pharmacologic treatment of schizophrenia focusing on prodromal and first-episode phases.
• Summarize the intersection between medicine and psychiatric disorders with emphasis on cardiovascular disease and cancer.
• Outline emerging theories and treatments of bipolar disorder, depression, treatment-resistant depression, bipolar depression, stress, and anxiety disorders.
• Identify the benefits and risks of ketamine.
• Discuss the role of psychotropic medications in women’s mental health, emphasizing PMS, pregnancy, nursing, and postpartum periods.
• Identify emerging treatments for PTSD.
• Explain psychopharmacology’s role in treating substance use disorders, focusing on alcohol, opiates, and cannabis.
• Illustrate recent advances and challenges in geriatric psychopharmacology.
• Discuss psychopharmacologic treatments proven to be ineffective.
• Discuss the application of digital phenotype tools in managing psychiatric disorders.

Speakers

• Carl Salzman, MD
• Matcheri Keshavan, MD
• Alan Schatzberg, MD
• Karen Dineen Wagner, MD, PhD
• Roscoe Brady, MD
• Stephen Stahl, MD
• Paulo Lizano, MD
• Robert Stickgold, PhD
• Anthony (Tony) Cunningham, PhD
• John Torous, MD
• Kevin Hill, MD
• Catherine Lager, MD
• Marcela Almeida, MD

Target Audience

• Psychiatrists
• Researchers in Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Clinicians and Researchers
• Pharmacists
• Nurses
• Nurse Practitioners
• Primary Care Physicians
• Specialty Physicians
• Psychologists
• Physician Assistants

Why This Topic Matters

Harvard Psychopharmacology: A Master Class 2023 provides in-depth knowledge essential for advanced psychiatric practice and research. The course strengthens expertise in psychopharmacology, supporting improved clinical decision-making and treatment strategies within psychiatry.

As a resource offered by MedHub Central, this course supports psychiatric professionals in maintaining current understanding of neurobiological mechanisms and therapeutic innovations. This enhances professional competence in managing complex psychiatric disorders.