Precision Healthcare for Impaired Reality Testing

Precision Healthcare for Impaired Reality Testing is organized by Nurse Practitioner Associates for Continuing Education (NPACE).

Expiration Date: December 31, 2026

Description:
This session explores the presentation and treatment of psychotic symptoms. Focus is directed to the treatment of schizophrenia, an incurable neuropsychiatric disorder. Up to 34% of patients with schizophrenia have treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Most current treatments for schizophrenia have focused exclusively on dopamine, which can improve the positive symptoms of schizophrenia; however, these therapies are often associated with adverse effects. None of the currently available therapies were designed to specifically target the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Recently, the development and investigation of agents targeting the muscarinic system have demonstrated that these agents may be viable treatment options for patients with schizophrenia and have been shown to improve the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. This session assesses the symptom and treatment burdens faced by patients with schizophrenia and examines the mechanisms of action, safety, and efficacy of emerging agents with novel therapeutic targets to treat all symptoms associated with schizophrenia.

Learning Objectives:
After taking part in this educational activity, participants should be better able to:

• Conceptualize mental illness in a neurobiological context (with an emphasis on psychotic disorders).
• Discuss current approaches to management of psychotic disorders, including practical applications for nurse practitioners.
• Apply concepts of pharmacogenomics to the selection, prescription and management of drug therapy for psychotic disorders.
• Explore and discuss novel pipeline pharmacotherapeutics for the treatment of psychosis.