Plastics production and use has grown exponentially since its commercial introduction in the 1950s. Although it has produced many societal benefits, the large-scale and indiscriminate use of plastics, especially in the last few decades, has led to large-scale environmental and health problems. Two findings raise significant neuropsychiatric concerns: micro- and nanoplastics are present in human brains and plastics-related endocrine-disrupting chemicals can cross the placenta and the blood-brain barrier. This talk will provide an overview of the plastics crisis and its relevance to mental health.

This presentation was originally reviewed on September 11, 2024, and live streamed online on September 11, 2024, from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm ET.

At the turn of the 21st century, pain management became a major public health concern, recognized as the 5th vital sign in VA healthcare, while opioid prescribing for chronic pain surged, leading to a fivefold increase in morphine milligram equivalents by 2010. In 2013, the DSM-5 redefined Substance Use Disorder (SUD) criteria, excluding tolerance and withdrawal for medically prescribed opioids. As the opioid epidemic unfolded, the limitations of long-term opioid therapy for chronic pain became evident, prompting current guidelines to discourage opioid initiation in favor of non-opioid approaches. However, some patients remain on long-term opioid therapy, struggling to taper without functional improvement, raising questions about whether these cases fit under mild Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) or require a new diagnostic category. This talk will address this ambiguity, outlining a clinical decision-making framework, and exploring the need for new diagnostic approaches when opioid harms outweigh benefits.

This presentation was originally reviewed on July 16, 2024, and live streamed online on July 17, 2024, from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm ET.

Access to specialty mental health care is limited for most Americans, with more than half of those having a mental illness not receiving treatment. Further, for patients who need emergent psychiatric care, rates of prolonged length of stay in Emergency Departments have increased with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a need for innovative solutions designed to support clinicians and streamline care processes. Digital health tools (e.g., mobile apps, wearable devices, telemedicine, electronic health records) have the potential to significantly improve the delivery of health care services and care of patients. Given the rising need for mental health services, digital tools are increasingly utilized to improve capacity and augment clinical care. This workshop will discuss several innovative digital solutions designed to improve access to mental health care.

This presentation was last reviewed on July 18, 2024, and broadcast live online on July 27, 2022, from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET. 

Eating disorders are complex. Weight restoration and cessation of disordered eating behaviors, along with psychotherapy, can reverse many of the psychological and physiologic consequences of these disorders. This presentation will cover the evidence base of how (getting started), where (treatment settings), and what (food, therapy, and psychopharmacology) that are involved in the treatment of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.

This presentation was last reviewed on July 15, 2024, and broadcast live online on July 13, 2022, from 12:oo PM – 1:00 PM ET. 

This presentation was last reviewed on July 15, 2024, and broadcast live online on June 1, 2022, from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM ET. 

Psychiatric treatment has greatly increased in complexity in the past generation. This is due to more treatments being available, the higher complexity of some of these treatments, the aging of the population, and the increased use of multiple medications. As a result, psychiatrists must be able to manage this higher complexity. Dr. Lenze will describe new research that allows for an evidence-based way to manage complex patients with a focus on geriatric depression care.