Course Description
Activity Dates: 12/11/2025 - 06/11/2026
Psychopharmacology Pearls is an application-based continuing pharmacy education (CPE) activity that allows users to gain greater insights into the strategies of clinical decision-making used by expert clinicians through four clinical articles developed and distributed annually via AAPP's peer-reviewed journal, The Mental Health Clinician (MHC). The articles developed for the Pearls product are not designed to replace typical review articles. Instead, they are meant to focus on a single disorder, or on one or more distinct aspects of a single psychiatric, neurologic, or substance use disorder, offering therapeutic advice based on both evidence and clinical expert experience.
- Four (4) articles in an electronic format.
- Five (5) hours of ACPE credit and 5 hours of BCPP Recertification credit achieved by successfully completing the online AAPP recertification examination. BCPP Recertification credit is earned and reported within the year the assessment is successfully completed (2025 or 2026).
- Access to the AAPP testing center with exam submission due by June 11, 2026. Exam extensions will not be granted after exam deadlines. In cases of personal or family illness that prevents completion of an exam, AAPP will transfer your product purchase to a comparable BCPP Recertification course after a letter documenting the unique circumstances is received by the AAPP office.
Consider making this product part of your BPS Continuing Professional Development plan! Please refer to the BPS Psychiatric Pharmacy Content Outline to see how this activity may align.
Learning Objectives
Clinical Pearls for the Treatment of Narcolepsy
ACPE: 0284-0000-25-036-H01-P
Develop an individualized treatment approach for a patient with narcolepsy.
Modify a therapeutic treatment plan for a patient with narcolepsy based on symptom evolution or clinical changes.
Identify pharmacotherapy needs involving comorbidities.
Educate patients on safety and monitoring needs related to narcolepsy treatment options.
Pharmacological Management of Binge Eating Disorder
ACPE: 0284-0000-25-034-H01-P
- Assess the evidence for use of medications to manage binge eating disorder.
- Design an appropriate therapeutic treatment plan for a patient diagnosed with binge eating disorder.
- Educate patients on the potential risks and benefits of medications used in binge eating disorder.
Rational Antipsychotic Polypharmacy in Psychotic and Bipolar Disorders: A Focus on Dopamine D2 Receptor Partial Agonists
ACPE: 0284-0000-25-037-H01-P
- Evaluate the risks and benefits of antipsychotic polypharmacy for patients prescribed partial agonist antipsychotics.
- Analyze patient and antipsychotic medication factors that may impact the use of partial agonist antipsychotics as part of a treatment regimen.
- Apply evidence and/or expert opinion to optimize treatment for a patient prescribed partial agonist antipsychotics.
- Choose therapeutic management options for common or complex clinical situations involving symptoms of psychosis.
Safety Considerations for Patients Using Cannabis
ACPE: 0284-0000-25-035-H01-P
- Evaluate the risks associated with cannabis use.
- Choose evaluation tools and strategies to monitor for toxicity in patients with cannabis use disorder.
- Apply available evidence and/or clinical experience to provide recommendations related to cannabis interactions in patients with cannabis use disorder.
Target Audience
BCPPs who value and learn through case-based literature offering therapeutic advice on both evidence and longstanding clinical experience are the target audience for this product. New and experienced BCPPs desiring insights into the strategies of clinical decision-making used by expert clinicians will find value in this product as the articles focus on disease states, their pharmacotherapy, and the synthesis of solutions to challenges that require judgement(s) founded on evidence but modified or tempered by extensive clinical experience and practicalities of "real world" necessities.
Faculty
View biographical information
Marilyn N Bulloch PharmD, BCPS FCCM SPP
Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice
Auburn University and University of Alabama College of Community Health Sciences
Auburn, AL
Sara E. Dugan, PharmD, BCPP, BCPS
Professor, Pharmacy Practice, Director of Interprofessional Development
Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED)
Rootstown, OH
Aaron Salwan, PharmD, MPH, BCPP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Behavioral Health
Montefiore Nyack Hospital
Nyack, NY
Andrew Williams, PharmD, BCPP, FAAPP
Supervising Clinical Pharmacist, Behavioral Health Pharmacy Services
Riverside University Health System
Riverside, CA
Course Requirements
To satisfactorily complete the recertification programming and receive BCPP Recertification and ACPE credit, candidates must meet the following requirements:
- Register for this course.
- Review the full content of the activity and reflect upon its teachings.
- Abide by a confidentiality and honesty statement requiring individual completion of the course.
- Complete the post-test at the end of the activity no later than the closing activity date.
- Complete an activity evaluation form.
- Wait for an official review of exam questions within 4 weeks following the closing date.
- Receive a passing grade (75%).
- Partial credit is not provided; your exam score must meet or exceed the cut-off score in order to receive the ACPE and BCP Recertification credit.
- Learners who do not achieve a passing score on a post-activity assessment may appeal assessment questions and/or take a remediation assessment. View AAPP's Post-Activity Assessment Appeal and Remediation Policy.
- Provide the necessary details in your profile to ensure correct reporting by AAPP to CPE Monitor.
Continuing Education Credit and Disclosures
Activity Dates: 12/11/2025 - 06/11/2026
ACPE Contact Hours: 5
ACPE Numbers: 0284-0000-25-034-H01-P (Application), 0284-0000-25-035-H01-P (Application), 0284-0000-25-036-H01-P (Application), 0284-0000-25-037-H01-P (Application)
Nursing Credit Reminder: Note that ACPE credit is accepted for ANCC Certification Renewal and AANPCB advanced practice provider content. For specific questions related to your organization's acceptance of ACPE continuing education units, please contact your organization directly.
The American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. The Psychopharmacology Pearls product is an application-based program approved for 5 ACPE contact hours. To receive ACPE credit, pharmacists completing this programming are required to complete an evaluation of the course as well as pass an online examination.
View Editorial Board Disclosures of Interest
Beth DeJongh, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP
Director of Continuing Professional Development
American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists
Lincoln, NE
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Megan Ehret, PharmD, MS, BCPP
Professor
Monrovia, MD
External Consultant Activities, Advisory Panels, Speakers Bureaus, etc.: Saladex Biomedical Consultant,
Lexi-Comp Consultant/Reviewer, SMI Adviser; Pharmacist Consultant
Educational Grants, Research Grants or Contracts: FDA/University of Maryland CERSI, Maryland Behavioral
Health Department, NIH
Beth Hall, PharmD, BCPP
340B Coordinator
Blessing Hospital
Fulton, MO
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Kayla Johnson, PharmD, BCPP, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacist Specialist
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Thompsons Station, TN
External Consultant Activities, Advisory Panels, Speakers Bureaus, etc.: Pharmacy Times Continuing Education Speaker
Erin Knox, PharmD, BCPP
Director of Experiential Education
UCI School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
Irvine, CA
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Michael McGuire, PharmD, BCPP
Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Belmont University College of Pharmacy
Nashville, TN
External Consultant Activities, Advisory Panels, Speakers Bureaus, etc.: Alkermes Inc.
Non-Financial Interests: AAPP Foundation Board of Directors
Sandy Mitchell, PharmD, BCPP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Psychiatry
VCU Health System
Richmond, VA
External Consultant Activities, Advisory Panels, Speakers Bureaus, etc.: Wolters Kluwer Consultant
Rebecca "Becky" Reiss, PharmD, BCPP
Behavioral Health Clinical Pharmacist Specialist
Denver Health Medical Center
Denver, CO
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
All relevant relationships have been mitigated.
View Independent Reviewer Disclosures of Interest
The articles in this learning activity were developed by the authors in conjunction with the planning committee. Each article subsequently was peer-reviewed and copyedited by the Mental Health Clinician (MHC) prior to publication. As a scholarly journal, the MHC utilizes external double-blind peer review such that reviewer details are not presented here. MHC Editorial Board policies are online.
All relevant relationships have been mitigated.
View AAPP's Disclaimer and Disclosure Declarations
AAPP Disclaimer: Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient’s conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.
Unlabeled Use Disclosure: Faculty of this CE activity may include discussions of products or devices that are not currently labeled for use by the FDA. The faculty have been informed of their responsibility to disclose to the audience if they will be discussing off-label or investigational uses (any uses not approved by the FDA) of products or devices. The faculty, planners, and American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists do not endorse the use of any product outside of the FDA labeled indications. Medical professionals should not utilize the procedures, products, or diagnosis techniques discussed during this activity without evaluation of their patient for contraindications or dangers of use.
View AAPP's Copyright Statement, Terms of Use, and Policies
AAPP owns the copyright, is licensed or has received permissions for use of, or is otherwise permitted to use copyrighted materials within any CPE activity. Authors and speakers are required to obtain necessary copyright permissions for content in CPE activities. AAPP complies with copyright laws and regulations.
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View AAPP's Fair Balance and Integrity Statement
It is the policy of AAPP to ensure independence, balance, objectivity, scientific rigor, and integrity in continuing education activities. Those involved in the development of this continuing education activity have made all reasonable efforts to ensure that information contained herein is accurate in accordance with the latest available scientific knowledge at the time of accreditation of this continuing education activity. Information regarding drugs (e.g., their administration, dosages, contraindications, adverse reactions, interactions, special warnings, and precautions) and drug delivery systems is subject to change, however, and the reader is advised to check the manufacturer’s package insert for information concerning recommended dosage and potential problems or cautions prior to dispensing or administering the drug or using the drug delivery systems.
Fair balance is achieved through ongoing and thorough review of all materials produced by faculty, and all educational and advertising materials produced by supporting organizations, prior to educational offerings. Approval of credit for this continuing education activity does not imply endorsement by AAPP for any product or manufacturer identified.