J. Craig Nelson, MD
Leon J. Epstein Professor of Psychiatry
Director, Geriatric Psychiatry
University of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA

George I. Papakostas, MD
Associate Professor of Psychiatry
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, MA

CME Reviewer

Gregory M. Asnis, MD
Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Bronx, NY
Director, The Anxiety and Depression Program
Montefiore Medical Center,
Bronx, NY

Learning Objectives

After completing this activity, participants should be able to:

• Assess the current rates of remission with standard therapies when determining treatment strategies for patients with MDD.
• Evaluate combination and augmenting management strategies in the treatment of patients with MDD.
• Determine the role of atypical antipsychotics as augmenting agents for suboptimal response to antidepressant therapy for MDD.
• Develop options for improving treatment to achieve symptom resolution, restore patient functionality, and promote wellness.

Goal Statement

This activity will provide participants with strategies for improving rates of remission for major depressive disorder (MDD), including treatment resistant depression, along with combination and augmentation strategies for depression with atypical antipsychotics.

This activity has been independently reviewed for balance.

Intended Audience

This continuing medical education activity is intended for psychiatrists, primary care physicians, and other healthcare professionals who seek to improve their care for patients with mental health disorders.

Supporter Statement

This activity is supported by an educational grant from

Co-sponsored by

Content Provided By

Accreditation Statement

Albert Einstein College of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation

Albert Einstein College of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Faculty Disclosures

Dr. Nelson is a consultant for Biovail, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Corcept, Covidien, Forest, Medtronics, Merck, Orexigen, Otsuka, and sanofi-aventis; and serves on the advisory board for Briston-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Shire, and Sierra Neuropharmaceuticals.

Dr. Papakostas is a speaker for Bristol-Myers Squibb; serves as a consultant for AstraZeneca, Otsuka, PAMLAB LLC, and Wyeth; and received grant/research support from Bristol-Myers Squibb, Forest, National Institutes of Health, PAMLAB, Pfizer, and Precision Human Biosystems.

Dr. Asnis serves on the Speakers Bureau for sanofi aventis U.S.; and has also received grant/research support from GlaxoSmithKline, Lundbeck Inc., Pfizer Inc. and sanofi-aventis U.S.

Staff Disclosures

Steven Jay Feld, or a member of his household own securities in Bioheart, Inc., Chelsea Therapeutics, Inc. and Pharmacopeia, Inc.

Sandra Davidson, Scott Kober, Barbara L. Morgan, Robert F. Nattichia, and John Ruggerio have no disclosures to report.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The "Conflict of Interest Disclosure Policy" of Albert Einstein College of Medicine requires that faculty participating in any CME activity disclose to the audience any relationship(s) with a pharmaceutical or equipment company. Any presenter whose disclosed relationships prove to create a conflict of interest, with regard to their contribution to the activity, will not be permitted to present.

The Albert Einstein College of Medicine also requires that faculty participating in any CME activity disclose to the audience when discussing any unlabeled or investigational use of any commercial product, or device, not yet approved for use in the United States.

The staff of CCME of Albert Einstein College of Medicine and The Institute for Continuing Healthcare Education have no conflicts of interests to report with commercial interests related directly or indirectly to this educational activity.

Disclaimer

The opinions and recommendations expressed by faculty and other experts whose input is included in this activity are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the sponsors or supporter. Discussions concerning drugs, dosages, and procedures may reflect the clinical experience of the faculty or 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. Activity participants are encouraged to refer to primary references or full prescribing information resources.

Method of Participation

Participants are required to review the entire presentation and to complete the posttest and evaluation to earn a certificate of completion.

This enduring activity is a spin-off of a live presentation at the 2009 U.S. Psychiatric and Mental Health Congress, November 4, 2009, in Las Vegas, NV. If you have earned a certificate for the live session, you are ineligible to earn a certificate for the enduring spin-off.