Four Takeaways from the APNA Psychopharmacology Conference
Missed sessions from the APNA 24th Clinical Psychopharmacology Institute — or want to take a second look?
Check out these four takeaways from the APNA psychopharmacology conference recordings, now available on demand in the APNA eLearning Center to help you translate cutting-edge psychopharmacology and neuroscience into clinical practice. Here are a few presentations that were highly valued, and a glimpse of how they’ll help you build your clinical confidence/update your practice.
Opening session: Emergency Psychiatry and Crisis Interventions: Helping People on Their Worst Days, Tony Thrasher, DO, MBA, CPE, DFAPA (2.0 contact hours)
What you’ll hear: “In fact, most issues can be readily uncovered by quality physical exams with a focus on all possible issues — not anchoring towards a mental illness.”
Why attendees say you should listen: “This education is very timely! The majority of our mental health patients are distressed by environmental and psychosocial stressors more than their actual psychiatric diagnoses. When these are ignored, it can lead to frustration, anger, and poor engagement.”
Keynote: Cannabis and Mental Health: Complexities in Contemporary Psychopharmacologic Practice, Wilson Compton, MD, MPE (1.5 pharmacology contact hours)
What you’ll hear: The hypothesis that cannabis may be involved in the etiology of a growing number of schizophrenia cases, especially for males. “Need to understand the impact of cannabis use has on mental health patients and change the pattern the pattern.”
Why attendees say you should listen: “Dr. Compton provided a wonderful, insightful presentation on Cannabis use and misuse. Loved the slides on Trends in Past-Year Cannabis and Alcohol Use and Substance Use Disorders Among Adults, Youth and young adults use of Cannabis, as well as cannabis vaping and substance use by age. In addition, slides on hemp composition-very alarming! Fabulous presentation!”
Drug-Induced Movement Disorders: From Recognition to Real-World Management, Kirby Williams, MSN, PMHNP-BC (1.5 pharmacology contact hours)
What you’ll hear: “Ask before you assume: Consider the full clinical picture of drug-induced movement disorders. Before attributing movements to a medication, conduct a full medication reconciliation and clinical assessment.”
Why attendees say you should listen: “So relevant as I have a patient I’ve been trying to treat the last 2 months for tardive dyskinesia and I’ve been stuck. Thank you so much for having this presentation!! Kirby [presents] exquisitely!”
Timing, Treatment, Trust: Shaping the Trajectory of Bipolar Disorder, Anyi Atabong, DNP, PMHNP-BC, FNP-C, PMH-C (1.5 pharmacology contact hours)
What you’ll hear: “It is our responsibility to connect with our patients and educate them….”
“When diagnosing in underserved and minority communities… [have a] clinician reflection: ‘Am I giving this patient the same diagnostic consideration I would give anyone else?'”
Why attendees say you should listen: “Dr. Atabong was fantastic! Her passion for caring for clients as well as her expertise is evident. The theme of timing, treatment and trust is key to managing patients with bipolar disorder. I greatly appreciated the review of the differences between major depressive disorder and the main types of polarity. Discussion about pharmacotherapy, assessment tools, as well as ways to manage difficult situations with clients and help them understand their illness was thorough. Great presentation!”
Published August 2026
Thinking about attending CPI next year to help you build clinical confidence? Why attendees say you should: “I’ve been able to attend this conference for several years now — the strongest presenters consistently from year to year!”
>>> Need to earn psychopharmacology hours this fall? The APNA 40th Annual Conference has sessions that fit your needs.
About APNA: The American Psychiatric Nurses Association is a national professional membership organization committed to the practice of psychiatric-mental health nursing and wellness promotion, prevention of mental health problems, and the care and treatment of persons with psychiatric disorders. APNA’s membership is inclusive of all psychiatric-mental health registered nurses including associate degree, baccalaureate, advanced practice (comprised of clinical nurse specialists and psychiatric nurse practitioners), and nurse scientists and academicians (PhD). APNA serves as a resource for psychiatric-mental health nurses to engage in networking, education, and the dissemination of evidence. The American Psychiatric Nurses Association is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
