Share This Page:   

Advances in Clinical Care for Patients with Alcohol Dependence

neuroscienceCME TV

Premiere Date: Wednesday, February 13, 2008

This activity offers CE credit for:

1. Physicians (ACCME/AMA PRA Category 1)
2. Nurses (CNE)
3. Pharmacists (ACPE)
4. Psychologists (APA)
5. Social Workers (NASW)
6. Addiction Professionals (NAADAC)

All other clinicians will either receive a CME Attendance Certificate or may choose any of the types of CE credit being offered.
Credit Expiration Date:
Friday, February 13, 2009

Faculty

MODERATOR: Robert R. Conley, MD Distinguished Scholar, Eli Lilly and Company Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry and Pharmacy Science University of Maryland, Baltimore Baltimore, MD

Michael W. Carlton, MD Chief Executive Officer, Phoenix Recovery Medical Director, Community Bridges Phoenix St. Luke's Chemical Dependence Unit Phoenix, AZ

Christopher W. Shea, MA, CRAT, CAC-AD Clinical Director Father Martin’s Ashley Havre de Grace, MD

Faculty Bios and Disclosure Declaration

Click here to view faculty bios and activity disclosures.

Statement of Need

Psychosocial interventions have been the mainstay of treatment for patients with alcohol dependence. However, there are some patients who are not able to remain abstinent with counseling alone and medication can be an additional, effective aid in the recovery process. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, in its 2005 update, Helping Patients Who Drink Too Much, states: "All approved drugs have been shown to be effective adjuncts to the treatment of alcohol dependence. Thus, consider adding medication whenever you're treating someone with active alcohol dependence or someone who has stopped drinking in the past few months but is experiencing problems such as craving or slips. Patients who have previously failed to respond to psychosocial approaches alone are particularly strong candidates."(1)

Overall, psychosocial interventions target the cortex, the center for decision-making; whereas, pharmacotherapy targets other brain areas such as the limbic region, associated with brain reward pathways.(2,3) In a study by Anton and colleagues, patients who were given a combination of pharmacotherapy and psychosocial treatment were less likely to relapse. Those who did relapse experienced a longer time between relapses. Thus, this study demonstrates the underlying impact that neurobiology can have on recovery.(4)

In this evidence-based neuroscienceCME TV format, faculty will present patient cases as they explore the integration of pharmacotherapy into current psychosocial treatment models to improve outcomes for patients with alcohol dependence.

---

1. NIAAA. Helping patients who drink too much: NIH Government Publications; 2005. Available at: http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/Publications/EducationTrainingMaterials/guide.htm. Accessed October 26, 2007.
2. Dom G, Sabbe B, Hulstijn W, van den Brink W. Substance use disorders and the orbitofrontal cortex: systematic review of behavioural decision-making and neuroimaging studies. Br J Psychiatry 2005;187:209-220.
3. Kalivas P, Volkow N. The neural basis of addiction: a pathology of motivation and choice. Am J Psychiatry 2005;162:1403-1413.
4. Anton RF, et al. Naltrexone combined with either cognitive behavioral or motivational enhancement therapy for alcohol dependence. J Clin Psychopharmacol 2005;25:349-357.

Activity Goal

To evaluate evidence-based psychosocial intervention and pharmacotherapy management strategies to improve outcomes for patients with alcohol dependence and to recognize the importance of neurobiology in addiction.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this CE activity, participants should be able to:

• Recognize the importance of neurobiology in addiction.
• Identify evidence-based interventions used to integrate pharmacotherapy and counseling.
• Evaluate available pharmacotherapies for patients with alcohol dependence.
• Review the clinical challenges of incorporating pharmacotherapy into treatment for patients with alcohol dependence.

Target Audience

Physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, psychologists, social workers, certified case managers, pharmacists, addiction counselors, and other healthcare professionals interested in alcohol dependence.

Financial Support

CME Outfitters, LLC, gratefully acknowledges an independent educational grant from Cephalon, Inc., and Alkermes, Inc., in support of this CE activity.

Credit Information

CME Credit (Physicians):
CME Outfitters, LLC, is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. CME Outfitters, LLC, designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Note to Physician Assistants: AAPA accepts Category I credit from AOACCME, Prescribed credit from AAFP, and AMA Category I CME credit for the PRA from organizations accredited by ACCME.

CNE Credit (Nurses):
CME Outfitters, LLC, is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the New York State Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

It has been assigned code 6WASUP-PRV-0626. 1.0 contact hours will be awarded upon successful completion.
Note to Nurse Practitioners: The content of this CNE activity pertains to Pharmacology.

CEP Credit (Psychologists):
CME Outfitters is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. CME Outfitters maintains responsibility for this program and its content. (1.0 CE credits)

NASW Credit (Social Workers):
This program was approved by the National Association of Social Workers (provider #886407722) for 1 continuing education contact hour.

NAADAC Credit (Addiction Professionals):
CME Outfitters, LLC, is an approved education provider by NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals. Provider Number 636. This activity is designated for 1.0 contact hour.

CPE Credit (Pharmacists):
CME Outfitters, LLC, is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. 1.0 contact hours (0.1 CEUs)
Universal Program Number: 376-000-08-002-L01-P (live presentation) 376-000-08-002-H01-P (recorded programs)

Post-tests, credit request forms, and activity evaluations can be completed online at www.neuroscienceCME.com (click on the Testing/Certification link under the Activities tab - requires free account activation), and participants can print their certificate or statement of credit immediately (70% pass rate required). Otherwise, participants should fully complete and return both the credit request form and activity evaluation located within the course guide for this activity. A certificate or statement of credit will be mailed within 4-6 weeks to all who successfully complete these requirements.

Questions about this activity? Call us at 877.CME.PROS (877.263.7767).