Adult CE Bundle (13 CE)

Course Level: Beginner

Course by: Jennifer Kolb, LCSW

Jennifer Kolb, LCSW; Social Work Consultant, reviewed and determined the course meets requirements for continuing education in the field of social work. This course is appropriate for masters and clinical level social workers. Jennifer graduated with a Master’s degree in Social Work with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Louisville, Kentucky. She specializes in school-based psychotherapy with children and adolescents, as well as licensing exam coaching and preparation.

Psychiatric Evaluation of Adults:  The topics in this course consist of Review of Psychiatric Symptoms, Trauma History, and Psychiatric Treatment History; Substance Use Assessment; Assessment of Suicide Risk; Assessment of Risk for Aggressive Behaviors; Assessment of Cultural Factors; Assessment of Medical Health; Quantitative Assessment; Involvement of the Patient in Treatment Decision Making; and Documentation of the Psychiatric Evaluation. For each topic, guideline statements will be followed by a discussion of the rationale, potential benefits and harms, and approaches to implementing the guideline statements. A second section of the Practice Guidelines provides a detailed review of the evidence for guideline statements in accord with national guideline development standards. This review of research evidence and data from the expert survey is followed by a discussion of quality measurement considerations, including their appropriateness for each topic.

Learning Objectives:

1. Gain knowledge of the identification of psychiatric signs and symptoms, psychiatric disorders, other medical conditions, and patients who are at increased risk for suicidal or aggressive behaviors
2. Summarize the factors that could influence the therapeutic alliance, enhance clinical decision making, enable safe and appropriate treatment planning, and promote better treatment outcomes
3. Evaluate the role of the psychiatric evaluation as the start of a dialog with patients about many factors, including diagnosis and treatment options
4. Evaluate the process of improving the collaborative decision making between patients and clinicians about treatment-related decisions

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Adult ADHD: Researchers and clinicians now recognize that Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) is a persistent neurodevelopmental disorder that affects adults (approximately 4%) who may or may not have been diagnosed with AD/HD as children. A majority of adult AD/HD cases are unrecognized and untreated because symptoms are more subtle and variable in adults, and many people, including health care professionals, conceptualize AD/HD as solely a childhood disorder. Changes reflected in DSM-5 address the symptom picture in adults and identify the presenting problems that may lead to a diagnosis of adult AD/HD. In this presentation, students will learn about the particular symptom presentation of adult AD/HD, myths and misconceptions about adult AD/HD, common co-occurring syndromes, and common treatment modalities. Without identification and proper treatment, adult AD/HD may have serious consequences, including academic and occupational failure, marital discord, psychiatric co-morbidities, substance abuse, and criminal and high-risk behavior.

Learning Objectives:

1. Define the main types, subtypes and symptoms of adult AD/HD and the developmental course that distinguishes adult from childhood AD/HD.
2. Identify the types of impairments (symptoms) and co-occurring syndromes that affect adults diagnosed with AD/HD.
3. List the important elements of an adult AD/HD assessment, diagnosis and treatment.
4. Describe the main treatment modalities, including therapy and medication.

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Racial/Ethnic Differences in Mental Health Service Use Among Adults: This course reports estimates of mental health service utilization among adults in the U.S. within different racial/ethnic groups. Highlights include past year utilization, prescription psychiatric medication use, outpatient and inpatient mental health service, and more.

Learning Objectives:

1. Delineate racial/ethnic differences in mental health service use among adults
2. Delineate differences in mental health service use among adults with any mental illness and serious mental illness

Course Format:

Course materials can be downloaded or read online. To receive a certificate of completion, you must complete an online multiple-choice post-test with a score of 75% or better and complete an online course evaluation. 

Approvals: