Managing Bipolar Disorder: The Pharmacist’s Role in Delivering Quality Care

This activity was originally broadcast in conjunction with the AAPP 2023 Annual Meeting.

Program Description

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a lifelong mental health condition that is characterized by recurrent episodes of emotional manic or depressive symptoms. There are numerous traditional therapies used to treat acute mania and depressive episodes. Because of the complexities surrounding these treatment regimens, low treatment response, and adverse effects experienced with the medications, nonadherence is common among patients with BD. With nonadherence being such a substantial concern, pharmacists can play an integral role in ensuring that hesitations and expectations are addressed at the initiation of therapy to improve the patient’s understanding and attitude toward necessary medications. This activity will cover the challenges associated with BD, treatment strategies, recent treatment advancements, investigational therapies, and the impact pharmaceutical interventions can have on disease outcomes. With greater understanding of the clinical burden, stigma, and adherence barriers associated with BD, pharmacists will be equipped to help better serve and manage patients.

Target audience: Health-system, retail, and specialty pharmacists

Type of activity: Application
Release date: May 2, 2023
Expiration date: May 2, 2024

Time to complete activity: 1.0 hour

Learner level: Intermediate
Fee: Free

Educational Objectives

At the completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Explore current challenges and unmet needs in bipolar disorder (BD)
• Examine the most current treatment guidelines for the management of BD
• Analyze advancements in current treatments for BD, and the investigational therapies in development
• Identify pharmacists’ roles in the management of BD across practice settings, including patient counseling, treatment recommendations, and access to therapy

Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This activity is approved for 1.0 contact hour (0.10 CEU) under the ACPE universal activity number 0290-0000-23-198-H01-P. The activity is available for CE credit through May 2, 2024.

Instructions for Completing the Activity and Receiving CPE Credit

To receive CPE credit, participants must complete the pretest, review the activity in its entirety, complete the posttest, and complete the online activity evaluation. After successful completion of the online activity evaluation, you can submit your credit to CPE Monitor. You may view your credit within 48 hours at www.mycpemonitor.net. All participants must request credit before the activity expiration date. CE credit will not be issued after this date.

Disclosures

Faculty

Stephen R. Saklad, PharmD, BCPP, has the following financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose:
Consultant: Alkermes, Genomind, Janssen, Karuna, Lundbeck, Otsuka

Speaker: Otsuka PsychU, Neurocrine, Teva

The following contributors have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose:

Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ Planning Staff—Jim Palatine, RPh, MBA; Maryjo Dixon, RPh, MBA; Dipti Desai, PharmD, MBA, CHCP; Michelle C. Carlson, PharmD; Kylie Ferrentino; Susan Pordon; Brianna Winters; and Chloe Taccetta.

Anonymous peer reviewers were used as part of content validation and conflict resolution. The peer reviewers have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose.

Educational Disclaimer
CPE activities are offered solely for educational purposes and do not constitute any form of professional advice or referral. Discussions concerning drugs, dosages, and procedures may reflect the clinical experience of the author(s) or they may be derived from the professional literature or other sources and may suggest uses that are investigational in nature and not approved labeling or indications. Participants are encouraged to refer to primary references or full prescribing information resources.

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