Psychosis as the Diagnosis: Drugs as the Cause
After providing an overview of what signs and symptoms are associated with psychosis, this activity will identify the medications/classes that are most likely to induce psychosis.
About this webinar
Many clinical professionals have a difficult time recognizing the signs and symptoms of psychosis as opposed to other mental health symptoms, such as mania. This makes it difficult to identify patients who may be experiencing drug-induced psychosis and patients may be misdiagnosed with a mental illness when in reality, the symptoms are due to the effects of a drug. Both prescription and OTC medications have the potential to induce psychosis, so pharmacists in all treatment settings need to be aware of this potential serious ADE and which medications are most likely to cause psychosis.
After providing an overview of what signs and symptoms are associated with psychosis, this activity will identify the medications/classes that are most likely to induce psychosis. These will include: stimulants, corticosteroids, anticholinergics, Parkinson’s disease meds, opioids, varenicline, and some cardio meds. Clinical pearls such as which psychosis symptoms are more commonly associated with each medication will be discussed and will be emphasize by providing case examples for some of the medications.
At the conclusion of this continuing education activity, the participant will be able to:
Differentiate between drug-induced psychosis vs. psychosis associated with a medical or mental illness
Identify features of drug-induced psychosis
Articulate which substances are most likely to contribute to psychotic symptoms, including prescription medications, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, and illicit substances
Evaluate patient case examples of drug-induced psychosis
Instructors
Dr. Kristin Waters is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Department of Pharmacy Practice of the University of Connecticut. She received her Pharm. D. from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy in 2015. She has worked as a clinical pharmacy specialist at Yale New Haven, treating inpatient psychiatric patients on the general adult, geriatric psychiatric, psychiatric emergency, and psychiatric observation units. She is board-certified as a Psychiatry Pharmacy Specialist and as a Pharmacotherapy Specialist and has Naloxone Training certification from the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection: Drug Control Division.