OVERVIEW

Psychopharmacology and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Course is organized by Drexel University College of Medicine - Continuing Medical Education.

Release Date: June 30th, 2014
Review Date: June 30th, 2017
Expiration Date: June 30th, 2020

Target Audience:
• General Psychiatrists
• Internists
• Family Practice Physicians
• Residents and Medical Students
• Social Workers
• Nurses
• Behaviorists
• Psychologists
• Educators

Accreditation:
AMA:
The Drexel University College of Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum of 4 AMA PRA Category 1 credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

AOA:
This program is eligible for 4 credits in Category 2A of the American Osteopathic Association.

Description:
Health professionals serving individuals with ASD are increasingly called upon to assist in psychopharmacological treatment of interfering behaviors and other co-morbidities associated with an ASD diagnosis. Psychiatric co-morbidities that often warrant medication treatment, including depression and behavior problems (e.g., aggression and self-destructive behaviors) can increase in adolescence and adulthood. Recent reviews have described a high frequency of psychotropic medication treatment in children and adolescents with ASD, and this trend continues through adulthood. Therefore, the professional practice performance gap or quality gap that needs to be addressed is health-professional knowledge in the treatment of individuals with ASD using a multidisciplinary approach including medication management coupled with behavioral interventions and data collection.

Learning Objectives:
• Recognizing and diagnosing ASD in adulthood and assessing the need for medication for individuals with ASD.
• Associating ADHD and OCD symptoms in individuals with ASD with medication.
• Define ways to treat social anxiety and other social difficulties in individuals with ASD medications and other interventions.
• Identify dimensions of behaviors in individuals with ASD and coordinating medication management with behavioral treatment.