From the Clinical Knowledge Center

Focus on Women: Mental Health Throughout the Life Cycle

The psychosocial and biological components of mental illness differ in presentation and prevalence among women and men. For example, major depression has an estimated lifetime prevalence of 17% and affects approximately twice as many women as men...

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Compass Questions™

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Responses from Last Compass Questions™

In the 03.10.09 issue of Clinical Compass™, we asked three questions.

Question #1 was "How often do you consult the most current medical literature when making treatment decisions?" and the neuroscienceCME learning community responded:
10.3% - Daily
26.2% - A few times each week
15.9% - Weekly
31.8% - Monthly
15.9% - Less than monthly

Question #2 was "Does your practice setting (e.g., patients, insurers, resources) support your use of tailored, individualized treatments for your patients?" and the neuroscienceCME learning community responded:
73.8% - Yes
12.1% - No
14.0% - Unsure

Question #3 was "Would re-conceptualizing mental illness as a developmental disorder change your practice patterns?" and the neuroscienceCME learning community responded:
20.6% - Yes
15.9% - No
62.6% - I already consider developmental issues when I assess and/or treat my patients

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neuroscienceCME Medical Simulation
Now Available!

Insomnia and Depression: Strategies for Success

Premiere Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Patient Info
Ted, a 65-year-old school teacher, presents with complaints of inability to fall asleep and increased job stress.

Activity Goal
To evaluate evidence-based diagnostic and treatment strategies to improve outcomes for patients with insomnia.

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

• Choose appropriate rating scales and assessment tools in diagnosing insomnia.
• Identify possible comorbidities that might contribute to differential diagnosis for insomnia.
• Design effective, evidence-based treatment strategies to improve overall outcomes in patients with insomnia and comorbid depression.

Credit Information
This activity offers CE credit for:

• Physicians (ACCME/AMA PRA Category 1)
• Nurses (CNE)
• Pharmacists (ACPE)

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

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Sleep Case Series, Part 1
Now Available!

Assessing and Managing the Symptom of Excessive Sleepiness in a Patient with Subtle Symptoms

Premiere Date: Monday, March 23, 2009

Patient Info
Jean is a 63-year-old white widow who lives with her daughter and grandchild and works part-time. Jean's friends and family have recently told her they have heard her snoring and gasping for air during sleep. She reports being uncharacteristically impatient and "grumpy" lately, and is having trouble with her concentration and memory. She has fallen asleep on the train and missed her stop a number of times and states that she is less happy overall.

Activity Goal
To provide mental health care practitioners with strategies drawn from the latest evidence for assessing symptoms of excessive sleepiness and for diagnosing and treating the underlying etiology to improve patient outcomes.

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

• Implement routine screening techniques for patients to uncover possible pathologic excessive sleepiness.
• Improve differential diagnosis of the etiology of excessive sleepiness.
• Develop guideline- and evidence-based approaches to managing patients with the symptom of excessive sleepiness based on underlying etiology.

Credit Information
This activity offers CE credit for:

• Physicians (ACCME/AMA PRA Category 1)
• Nurses (CNE)
• Pharmacists (ACPE)

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

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