Who should attend

This program is designed for prescribing clinicians working in mental health care and treatment:

• Psychiatrists in public and private practice settings
• Psychiatry registrars
• GPs
• OB-GYNs
• Nurse practitioners

What you will learn

On successful completion of this short course, you will be able to:

• Determine the pharmacokinetics and pharmacological activity of psychotropic medications in application to mental health disorders;
• Analyse the application of psychotropic medications and psychiatric physical treatments in the management of mental health disorders;
• Assess critically the risks of drug interactions and the safe use of psychotropics in complex medical settings;
• Analyse psychotropic and psychotherapeutic models of care, and the integration of therapies in the management of mental health disorders;
• Determine the appropriate framework in the implementation of a comprehensive mental health management plan for diverse patient groups.

Program structure

This short course is a series of Masterclass-style lectures delivered live online, followed by Q&A ‘clinical reasoning in action’ interactive sessions between participants and the expert presenters. Participants will be invited to bring clinical case material for discussion.

The weekly topics and presenters:

Week 1: Psychopharmacological & Physical Treatments for Psychotic Illnesses - Prof Keks & A/Prof Hope
Week 2: Psychopharmacological & Physical Treatments for Depressive Illnesses - Prof Keks & A/Prof Hope
Week 3: Psychopharmacological & Physical Treatments for Anxiety and Related Disorders (PTSD, OCD) - Prof Keks
Week 4: Psychopharmacological & Physical Treatments for Bipolar Disorder - Prof Keks & A/Prof Hope Week 5: Psychopharmacological & Physical Treatments for Addictions, and ADHD in adults. - Dr Bradlow
Week 6: Psychopharmacological & Physical Treatments for Special populations (pregnancy, breastfeeding, elderly) - A/Prof Hope
Week 7: Current Trends in Psychopharmacology: De-prescribing - Dr Bradlow & A/Prof Hope

Professor Nicholas Keks AM, MBBS MPM PhD FRANZCP, Consultant Psychiatrist

Prof Nick Keks is Professor of Psychiatry at Monash University, a psychiatrist in private practice at Delmont Private Hospital, Honorary psychiatrist at Monash Health, Executive Director of the Centre of Mental Health Education and Research at Delmont, and Professorial Fellow at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health. He is also a Senior Examiner for the Australian Medical Council, and Honorary Secretary of the Psychiatry Section of the Australian Medical Association Victorian Branch. Prof Keks’ qualifications include a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Melbourne, Master of Psychological Medicine from Monash University, Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Foundation member of its Faculty of Forensic Psychiatry, and Doctor of Philosophy from Monash University. Prof Keks is the author of over 220 peer-reviewed publications. His major interests are in psychopharmacology, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, psychoses and suicide prevention.

Associate Professor Judith Hope, MBBS (Hons) MPM PhD FRANZCP Clinical Academic, Eastern Clinical School, Monash University, Consultant Psychiatrist

A/Professor Judy Hope is a psychiatrist and researcher in mental health services, suicide prevention and psychopharmacology. Prof Hope has worked extensively across public and private services. She is committed to research that underpins high quality service delivery and psychopharmacological care of people with mental health challenges. Most recently, Prof Hope has headed mental health research at Eastern Health in Melbourne, and has run the tracking of  emergency mental health related presentations of COVID19.

Dr Richard Bradlow, MBBS (Hons) MMed (Psychiatry) MSc (Addiction Studies) FRANZCP, Consultant Psychiatrist

Dr Rich Bradlow is the Medical Director of The Victoria Clinic. He specialises in addiction and neuropsychiatry. As well as working privately at the Victoria clinic, he works for the Northern NSW Local Health District and the Victorian Drug and Alcohol Clinical Advisory Service (DACAS).

Participants will be enrolled into a learning management system, where optional self-directed learning materials will be provided – readings, resources, and online discussion forums. Participants will have access to recordings of the lectures for the duration of the course.

Time Commitment: Varies between 2 to 4 hours per week depending on the participants’ engagement with the optional learning materials.

Assessment: There is no formal assessment.

Participants will receive a Certificate of Attendance on completion of the course.

Please note: This short course does not qualify participants to prescribe psychopharmacological or physical treatments without the appropriate background health professional qualifications to do so.