Learn With Me: Clinical Considerations of Psychiatry

Course Description:

This activity will address the clinical considerations of adult and child psychiatry.  Education will focus on best practices related to screening, communication with patients and care coordination.

Statement of Need:

• Primary care physicians may be challenged by under recognition of mental health disorders in adults.
• Primary care physicians may be challenged by under recognition of mental health disorders in the pediatric population including:   ADHD, Autism spectrum disorder , Anxiety disorders , Depression, Eating disorders  and learning disorders.

UTILIZATION OF CHAT GPT aided in the provision of descriptions related to educational gaps:

1. Under recognition and Delayed Diagnosis of Mental Health Disorders including:

• Major depressive disorder
• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Bipolar disorder
• PTSD
• Substance use disorders
• Adult ADHD

2. Difficulty Differentiating Psychiatric Conditions

• Bipolar depression vs. unipolar depression
• Anxiety disorders vs. ADHD
• Dementia vs. depression
• Normal stress reactions vs. psychiatric illness
• Substance-induced symptoms vs. primary psychiatric disorders

This can lead to:

• Inappropriate medication selection
• Delayed referral
• Poor symptom control

3. Gaps in Evidence-Based Pharmacologic Management

Many PCPs report limited comfort with:

• Initiating and titrating antidepressants
• Managing treatment-resistant depression
• Appropriate use of antipsychotics
• Monitoring side effects and metabolic risks
• Managing polypharmacy
• Safely prescribing benzodiazepines
• Understanding drug interactions