HELLENIC PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION CLINICAL WORKSHOP
Coordinator:
Dimitris Ploumpidis
Professor of Psychiatry, Chairman of the Hellenic Psychiatric Association
Trainers:
George Konstantakopoulos
Psychiatrist, MD, PhD
Scientific associate of the First Department of Psychiatry of the University of Athens & Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, UK
Nikoleta Ioannidi,
Clinical psychologist, MSc
Scientific associate of the First Department of Psychiatry of the University of Athens
Duration: 4 hours
Aim - Subjects:
In psychiatric practice and in clinical education respectively, cognitive deficits (related to memory, attention, judgment, etc.) have been closely associated with neurodevelopmental (learning difficulties) and neurodegenerative (dementia) disorders. However, contemporary research data has already documented the existence of cognitive dysfunction in a wide range of mental disorders as well as the great significance of this dysfunction in the occupational and social functioning of patients and, more generally, in their quality of life.
In schizophrenia, even when "positive" symptoms of the disease are effectively treated, most patients experience also cognitive symptoms, such as memory and attention dysfunction, information processing issues, problem solving issues, and issues with social contacts. In patients with bipolar disorder and chronic or recurrent major depression, similar cognitive problems are observed, more limited, but capable of causing significant functioning impairment.
The same is observed in the most chronic and severe types of anxiety disorders.
Therefore, improving cognitive functioning is an independent and important goal in the context of treatment. The modern psychiatrist must be able to clinically assess cognitive dysfunction, to monitor the effect of treatment, and to make appropriate therapeutic choices, or to direct the patient to a specific therapeutic treatment of the cognitive symptoms. The modern psychiatrist, therefore, needs to be aware of the effects of medication on cognitive functions and of the use of specific therapeutic techniques, such as cognitive remediation therapy and social skills training.
We now have the possibility to rapidly transfer to psychiatrists the main body of knowledge concerning:
- Cognitive functions and their assessment
- Cognitive impairment in specific mental disorders
- The effect of current medication on cognitive functions and the appropriate treatment options
- The indications, principles and result of specific interventions for cognitive dysfunction.
The Clinical Workshop is addressed to psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and other mental health professionals who work with patients with psychoses and affective disorders.
The purpose of the Clinical Workshop is to adequately train clinicians in order for them to be able to reliably assess patients' cognitive dysfunction, monitor their progression during the course of therapy, and use special interventions in therapeutic planning. Participants will become familiar with specific methods and tools which will provide them the expertise for this clinical assessment.
In particular, the reinforcement of psychiatrists will be pursued in the clinical workshop through the following means:
- Provision of basic knowledge on the clinical manifestations, significance and prognosis of cognitive dysfunction in mental disorders: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression.
- Presentation of the modern means of treatment for cognitive dysfunction in patients with mental disorders.
- Presentation of all available methods for the detection and reliable assessment of cognitive dysfunction in mental disorders, through clinical examination, questionnaires, scales and neuropsychological bedside tests.
- Training in brief modes of cognitive functioning assessment and monitoring.
- Presentation of special printed Guides.
TRAINING PROGRAM
1st part: COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS WHICH ARE IMPAIRED IN MENTAL DISORDERS
2nd part: COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION IN MENTAL DISORDERS
- A) Schizophrenia
- B) Bipolar disorder
- C) Major depression
3rd part: TREATMENT OF COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION IN SCHIZOPHRENIA, BIPOLAR DISORDER AND MAJOR DEPRESSION
- A) Pharmaceutical treatment
- B) Non-pharmaceutical treatments
4th part: DETECTING AND ASSESSING COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION
- A) Detecting and assessing via a clinical interview
Cognitive Functions Check-list
- B) Clinical assessment with the use of scales and questionnaires
Perceived Deficits Questionnaire - Depression (PDQ-D)
- C) Neuropsychological Assessment
Brief Cognitive Assessment Tool for Schizophrenia (B-CATS)
5th part: TRAINING IN THE ASSESSMENT OF COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION WITH THE USE OF CLINICAL CASES
- A) Assessment and follow-up in major depression with PDQ-D
- B) Assessment and follow-up in psychoses with the use of B-CATS
“The clinical training course has already been held as a pilot and will be repeated within the context of the program of the Hellenic Psychiatric Association which will be implemented with the sponsorship of MYLAN.”