Understanding Psychopharmacology Polypharmacy in Service Member and Veteran Populations

October 25, 2012, 1–2:30 p.m. (EDT)

Overview

Health care providers treating service member and veteran populations with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) face a number of challenges. PTSD, itself, can be difficult to treat even when prescribed medications conform to the VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline. Furthermore, people with PTSD usually have at least one co-occurring disorder or problem that requires treatment in its own right. Most commonly these include depression, substance use disorders, traumatic brain injury, insomnia, pain, aggressive behavior or medical/surgical problems.

As a result, providers frequently interact with patients that have complex drug regimens for both physical and psychological health disorders. Prescribers need to carefully consider the implications of adding a new medication to a treatment regimen that may already include several pharmacological agents. They also need to consider discontinuing ineffective treatments that may only complicate clinical management. Although sometimes it is necessary to prescribe a number of medications for complex patients, combinations of medications increase the occurrence of adverse drug interactions, medication misuse and medication non-compliance/adherence. Additionally, combinations of medications have been identified as a contributing factor for suicides and unintentional deaths.

Non-prescribing health care providers treating service member and veteran populations are in a unique position to identify risk of drug-drug interactions, monitor patients for adverse drug reactions, educate patients about polypharmacy and refer patients for further assessment. This webinar will:

• Review the rates of polypharmacy in service member and veteran populations with a special emphasis on psychopharmacological medications
• Identify factors leading to polypharmacy situations and the safety risks
• Describe the role of clinicians in working with patients who have complex drug regimens

Presenter:

• Matthew J. Friedman, M.D.
  Professor of Psychiatry; and Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth

Moderator:

• CAPT Paul S. Hammer, MC USN
  Director, Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury

Registration and Continuing Education Credit

Sign up for the webinar »

Continuing education and continuing medical education credit is available from Saint Louis University. You must register in advance using the Adobe Connect website to qualify.

If your network security settings do not allow you to access Adobe Connect, use another network or device to access the registration page. Once registered, you may use Adobe Connect or Defense Connect Online to attend the webinar.