Targeting Novel Pathways to Address Unmet Needs in Schizophrenia Treatment
This activity is supported by an educational grant from Karuna Therapeutics.
Overview
Provider Statement
This continuing education activity is provided by 
Support Statement
This activity is supported by an educational grant from Karuna Therapeutics.
Activity Description
Schizophrenia is a neuropsychiatric disease characterized by difficulties in thinking and communicating clearly as well as psychosis (ie, “positive” symptoms); difficulty functioning socially (ie, “negative” symptoms); and cognitive impairment. Schizophrenia is incurable, and most people with schizophrenia do not spontaneously recover. As many as 34% of patients with schizophrenia have treatment-resistant schizophrenia, defined as continuing symptoms despite at least 2 trials of appropriate antipsychotic therapies. Most current treatments for schizophrenia have focused on dopamine (ie, first- and second-generation antipsychotics), which can improve the positive symptoms of schizophrenia. However, these therapies are associated with adverse effects, including extrapyramidal symptoms and metabolic side effects, and may increase the risk for cardiometabolic problems, hyperprolactinemia, sexual dysfunction, and menstrual irregularities. No therapies are currently available to improve the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. In recent years, elucidation of the role of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia has increased. The development and investigation of agents targeting the muscarinic system have demonstrated that these agents may be viable treatment options for patients with schizophrenia and have been shown to improve the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. In this program, experts assess the symptom and treatment burdens faced by patients with schizophrenia and examine the mechanisms of action, safety, and efficacy of emerging agents with novel therapeutic targets to treat all symptoms associated with schizophrenia. Interprofessional strategies for incorporating novel therapeutic agents into patient-focused management plans are highlighted in a panel discussion. The activity also features a caregiver video.
Target Audience
The intended audience for this activity is psychiatric nurse practitioners, psychiatric nurses, and other healthcare professionals involved in the management of patients with schizophrenia.
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of this activity, participants should be better able to:
- Assess symptom and treatment burden faced by patients with schizophrenia.
- Examine the mechanism of action, safety, and efficacy of emerging agents with novel therapeutic targets to treat all symptoms associated with schizophrenia.
- Discuss interprofessional strategies for incorporating novel therapeutic agents into patient-focused management plans.
Activity Chair
Josh Hamilton, DNP, RN/PMH-BC, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, CNE, CTMH, CLNC, FAANP
Chief Clinical Officer
The Hamilton Group Behavioral Health LLC
Las Vegas, NV
Faculty
John Krystal, MD
Robert L. McNeil, Jr. Professor of Translational Research
Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience
Chair, Department of Psychiatry
Co-Director, Yale Center for Clinical Investigation
Yale University School of Medicine
New Haven, CT
Laura G. Leahy, DrNP, APRN, FAANP, FAAN
Board Certified Psychiatric & Addictions Advanced Practice Nurse
APNSolutions, LLC
Sewell, NJ
Patient Caregiver and Advocate
Lisa Abrams, MSN, PMHCNS-BC
Advance Practice Nurse
Board Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist
LA-NP, Psychiatric Mental Health Services, PLC
Glen Allen, VA
Planners/Reviewers
Ronald A. Codario, MD, EMBA, FACP, FNLA, RPVI, CHCP
Barbara A. Niedz, PhD, RN, CPHQ
Accreditation
In support of improving patient care, Vindico Medical Education is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Credit Designation
This activity is approved for 0.75 contact hour(s) of continuing education (which includes 0.33 hour(s) of pharmacology) by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners®. Activity ID# 23116445. This activity was planned in accordance with AANP Accreditation Standards and Policies.
This enduring material is approved for 1 year from the date of original release, November 30, 2023, to November 29, 2024.
How to Participate in This Activity and Obtain CE Credit
To participate in this activity, you must read the objectives, answer the polling and pretest questions, view the content, and complete the posttest and evaluation. Provide only one (1) correct answer for each question. A satisfactory score is defined as answering 3 of the 4 posttest questions correctly. If a satisfactory score on the posttest is achieved, Vindico Medical Education will issue a Contact Hour(s) certificate.
Disclosures
Vindico Medical Education adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a continuing education activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others, are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.
Relationship information is accurate at the time of content development.
Activity Chair, Faculty, and Patient Caregiver report the following relevant financial relationship(s)
Lisa Abrams, MSN, PMHCNS-BC
No relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Josh Hamilton, DNP, RN/PMH-BC, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, CNE, CTMH, CLNC, FAANP
Speaker Contracted by Ineligible Company: Myriad Neuroscience
John Krystal, MD
Advisor: BioXcel Therapeutics, Cerevel Therapeutics, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Neumora, Neurocrine Biosciences, Novartis, Terran Biosciences
Consultant: BioXcel Therapeutics, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cerevel Therapeutics, Janssen, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Otsuka, Sunovion
Speaker Contracted by Ineligible Company: AstraZeneca, Cerevel, Novartis
Individual Stocks and Stock Options (publicly traded): Neumora Therapeutics
*Individual Stocks and Stock Options (privately held): Terran Biosciences
Editorial Board/Editor: Biological Psychiatry
Laura G. Leahy, DrNP, APRN, FAANP, FAAN
Royalties or Patent Beneficiary: American Psychiatric Association Publishing
Speaker Contracted by Ineligible Company: Otsuka
*Will not discuss business lines or products of company.
Planners/Reviewers report the following relevant financial relationship(s)
Ronald A. Codario, MD, EMBA, FACP, FNLA, RPVI, CHCP
No relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Barbara A. Niedz, PhD, RN, CPHQ
No relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Vindico Medical Education staff report the following relevant financial relationship(s)
No relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Signed disclosures are on file at Vindico Medical Education, Office of Medical Affairs and Compliance.
Unlabeled and Investigational Usage
The audience is advised that this continuing education activity may contain references to unlabeled uses of FDA-approved products or to products not approved by the FDA for use in the United States. The faculty members have been made aware of their obligation to disclose such usage. All activity participants will be informed if any speakers/authors intend to discuss either non–FDA-approved or investigational use of products/devices.
ADA Compliance
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, we will make all reasonable efforts to accommodate persons with disabilities. A text-based transcript of this lecture is available upon request. Requests should include the activity title and emailed to CME@VindicoCME.com. Requests will be honored within 3 to 5 business days.
Copyright Statement
Created and published by Vindico Medical Education, 6900 Grove Road, Building 100, Thorofare, NJ 08086-9447. Telephone: 856-994-9400; Fax: 856-384-6680. Printed in the USA. Copyright © 2023 Vindico Medical Education. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The material presented at or in any Vindico Medical Education continuing education activity does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Vindico Medical Education. Neither Vindico Medical Education nor the faculty endorse or recommend any techniques, commercial products, or manufacturers. The faculty/authors may discuss the use of materials and/or products that have not yet been approved by the FDA. All readers and continuing education participants should verify all information before treating patients or utilizing any product.
CE Questions?
Contact us at cme@vindicoCME.com