Target Audience

Practitioners who care for individuals with psychiatric and neurodegenerative brain disorders, including geriatricians, neurologists, primary care providers, psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, rehabilitation specialists, social workers, and others.

Program Description

A number of behavioral syndromes that result from brain dysfunction in neurodegenerative disease have parallels in psychiatric disorders. Improving tools in neurogenetics, neuroimaging, and clinical assessment are accelerating progress toward deciphering the biology of mental disorders. While neuro-chemical, -pathological, and -physiological models help to explain some of these behaviors, scientists and clinicians must avoid oversimplification and reductionism. This continuing medical education conference will examine the clinical expressions of some neuropsychiatric syndromes, common underlying mechanisms across brain disorders, and scientifically-informed and validated management strategies.

Objectives

Upon completion of this program, participants will be able to:

• Describe the anatomical and functional brain anomalies associated with specific behavioral syndromes;
• Outline common features of behavioral dysfunction across the spectrum of psychiatric and neurologic conditions;
• Apply and develop evidence-based strategies to improve patients’ quality of life through managing behavioral distress.