Subscribe to Clinical Compass™ Volume 3, Issue 22 - October 21, 2008

From the Clinical Knowledge Center

Beating the Winter Blues: Brief Update on Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also called the "winter blues," is a subtype of major depression with a seasonal component. Symptoms begin in the fall or winter, and lessen or remit during spring and summer. SAD affects 1% to 3% of adults, mostly women. Ratios between 1.8:1 and 4:1 have been reported for female predominance. The prevalence of SAD is highest during the reproductive years. For some, SAD lasts a lifetime; for others, it remits or may turn into some other type of depression. SAD can be very disabling in terms of both social and occupational function, and can markedly impair quality of life...

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Compass Questions™

Your responses to this issue's Compass Questions™ will be added to an ongoing needs assessment for educational programming in this important area. Responses to this issue's questions will be reported in an upcoming issue.

Question #1
Have you ever diagnosed a patient with seasonal affective disorder?
Yes
No

Question #2
How confident do you feel in your ability to manage patients with seasonal affective disorder?
Very confident
Confident
Somewhat confident
Not confident

Question #3
How interested would you be in educational activities geared toward identifying and treating seasonal affective disorder?
Very interested
Somewhat interested
Not sure
Not interested

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Responses from Last Compass Questions™

In the 10.07.08 issue of Clinical Compass™, we asked two questions.

Question #1 was "How often do you ask patients with sleep complaints to use a sleep diary?" and the neuroscienceCME learning community responded:
33% - Often
32% - Sometimes
20% - Rarely
15% - Never

Question #2 was "How confident are you in choosing the appropriate medication for each patient with sleep complaints?" and the neuroscienceCME learning community responded:
14% - Very confident
23% - Confident
36% - Somewhat confident
27% - Not confident

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New Bipolar Disorder Journal Club
Premieres November 17, 2008!

Bipolar Disorder: Individualizing Treatment to Improve Patient Outcomes, Parts 1-3

3 Chances for Live Interaction with Experts on Featured Articles!
Each part premieres on the following date/time:

PART 1: Monday, November 17, 2008, 12:00–12:45 p.m. ET
(Dr. Post/Dr. McIntyre)

PART 2: Tuesday, December 2, 2008, 12:00–12:45 p.m. ET
(Dr. Suppes/Dr. McIntyre)

PART 3: Monday, December 15, 2008, 12:00–12:45 p.m. ET
(Dr. Bowden/Dr. McIntyre)

Faculty will answer email questions for two weeks after their respective Q&A date

NOTE: Additional time for completing the post-test and evaluation will be added to each 45-minute presentation to equal 1.0 CE credit

Series Goal
To incorporate the latest evidence-based literature to develop strategies for early detection, intervention, and long-term maintenance of patients with bipolar depression.

Learning Objectives
At the end of this CE activity, participants should be able to:

  • PART 1: Assess the role of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in both the pathophysiology and clinical presentations of bipolar and unipolar disorder.
  • PART 2: Compare the use of atypical antipsychotics in combination with mood stabilizers versus mood stabilizers plus placebo in patients with bipolar I disorder.
  • PART 3: Compare and contrast the use of adjunctive, antidepressant therapy and mood stabilizers with the use of mood stabilizers alone in achieving a durable recovery in BPD.

Credit Information
Earn up to 3.0 CE credits by completing all 3 parts!

This activity offers CE credit for:

  • Physicians (ACCME/AMA PRA Category 1)
  • Nurses (CNE)
  • Pharmacists (ACPE)
  • Psychologists (APA)
  • Social Workers (NASW)
  • Certified Case Managers (CCMC)

All other clinicians will either receive a CME Attendance Certificate or may choose any of the types of CE credit being offered.

Register now for Monday, November 17
Register now for Tuesday, December 2
Register now for Monday, December 15
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In This Issue

From the Clinical Knowledge Center: Beating the Winter Blues: Brief Update on Seasonal Affective Disorder

Compass Questions™

Responses from Last Compass Questions™

New Bipolar Disorder Journal Club Premieres November 17, 2008!

Live CME/CE
Multidisciplinary CE Credits Offered!

View full CME calendar

October 22, 2008
neuroscienceCME TV

SPECIAL ENCORE PRESENTATION: Bipolar Depression: Individualizing Treatment to Prevent Relapse and Recurrence

MODERATOR

Roger S. McIntyre, MD, FRCPC
Roger S. McIntyre, MD, FRCPC

FACULTY

Susan L. McElroy, MD
Susan L. McElroy, MD

View activity details
Add to calendar
Register now

October 23, 2008
neuroscienceCME TV

SPECIAL ENCORE PRESENTATION: Augmenting Antidepressants with Atypical Antipsychotics in Major Depressive Disorder

MODERATOR

Charles B. Nemeroff, MD, PhD
Charles B. Nemeroff, MD, PhD

FACULTY

Mark Hyman Rapaport, MD
Mark Hyman Rapaport, MD

Andrew A. Nierenberg, MD
Andrew A. Nierenberg, MD

View activity details
Add to calendar
Register now

October 27, 2008
neuroscienceCME Journal Club

Adherence and Early Predictors of Response: Tools for Individualizing Treatment in Schizophrenia

GUEST HOST

Alan I. Green, MD
Alan I. Green, MD

FEATURED AUTHOR

Philip D. Harvey, PhD
Philip D. Harvey, PhD

View activity details
Add to calendar
Register now

October 29, 2008
neuroscienceCME TV

SPECIAL ENCORE PRESENTATION: Advances in Clinical Care for Patients with Alcohol Dependence

MODERATOR

Robert R. Conley, MD
Robert R. Conley, MD

FACULTY

Michael W. Carlton, MD
Michael W. Carlton, MD

Christopher W. Shea, MA, CRAT, CAC-AD
Christopher W. Shea, MA, CRAT, CAC-AD

View activity details
Add to calendar
Register now

Self-Study CME/CE
Multidisciplinary CE Credits Offered!

View full self-study library

Bipolar Depression: Individualizing Treatment to Prevent Relapse and Recurrence

CD-ROM

FACULTY
Roger S. McIntyre, MD, FRCPC
Susan L. McElroy, MD

View activity details
Order online

Adherence and Early Predictors of Response: Tools for Individualizing Treatment in Schizophrenia

Webcast

FACULTY
Alan I. Green, MD
Philip D. Harvey, PhD
John M. Kane, MD
Stephen R. Marder, MD

View activity details
Participate online

Depression as a Mind-Body Disorder in Minority Populations: Special Challenges in Diagnosis and Treatment

Webcast/Podcast

FACULTY
Rakesh Jain, MD, MPH
Rahn Kennedy Bailey, MD, FAPA
Vladimir Maletic, MD
Madhukar H. Trivedi, MD

View activity details
Participate online

The Impact of Adherence on Maintenance Treatment in Schizophrenia

CD-ROM

FACULTY
Charles B. Nemeroff, MD, PhD
Peter F. Buckley, MD
Diana O. Perkins, MD, MPH

View activity details
Order online


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