Clinical Grand Rounds

Synopsis & Objectives:

This presentation will describe current approaches in sport psychology delivery services. It is intended to educate and inform as to the major models and theories being utilized in the field today, provide a brief history of the development of sport psychology, and discuss current issues around mental health in sport, and the intersection of mental health and performance. 

The outline for the presentation is:

History of sport psychology for athletes

The Psychology of Excellence and Performance

Mental Health and Performance

How psychologists work with athletes and in sport

Guidelines for Best Practice for Psychologists

Knowledge

Training

Ethics and Professional Development

Interprofessional Teams

Equity, Diversity and Advocacy

Looking Ahead

Synopsis & Objectives:

This presentation aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how PTSD can act as an underlying factor in substance abuse, and how EMDR can be an effective tool in addressing trauma and its related symptoms. 

Through a combination of statistical information, theoretical knowledge, and practical insights, participants will gain valuable insights into this complex issue and potential treatment approaches.

Synopsis and Objectives:

In this talk, we will explore the strong science of sleep medicine and its relation to mental health. We live in a 24/7 world with Increasing amount of screen time. Our sleep quantity and quality is suffering.

Together, we will understand the biological basis of sleep and its relation to brain functioning, metabolic health and mental health. You will grasp the strong causal and contributing relationship of sleep disorders with mental health disorders. 

Finally, we will design a robust sleep, hygiene program and sleep best practices in the evaluation and management mental health conditions. 

Synopsis & Objectives:

Alcohol Use Disorder in older adults represents a significant challenge for clinicians. It is widely under reported, difficult to diagnose and difficult to treat. 

More older adults are misusing alcohol than in earlier years. An estimated 23.2 million adults ages 65 and older drank alcohol in the past month, 5.6 million engaged in past-month binge drinking, and 1.5 million engaged in past-month heavy drinking. 

The signs and effects of alcohol misuse, including binge drinking and AUD, often differ between older and younger adults. 

This presentation will focus on specific practical issues for clinicians who encounter older adults with suspected alcohol use disorder.

Objectives:

1 The participants will improve their understanding of how to identify, assess, and treat older adults with AUD.

2. The participants will learn about confounding comorbid psychiatric and medical issues, which affect treatment and outcome in older adults with AUD.

3. The participants will learn characteristics of Age-Sensitive Alcohol Treatment for Older Adults.

Synopsis & Objectives:

This presentation is designed to explore the advanced applications of Motivational Interviewing (MI) in the context of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) recovery. Joey Pagano, MSW, LSW, CRS, will lead the session, drawing on his extensive professional background and personal experiences. Attendees will gain insight into combining evidence-based practices with real-life experiences to enhance the effectiveness of MI in SUD treatment.

1. Understand the Core Principles and Techniques of Motivational Interviewing:

- Gain a solid understanding of MI's foundational principles, including collaboration, evocation, and autonomy.

- Learn the essential techniques of MI, such as open-ended questions, affirmations, reflective listening, and summarization.

2. Identify and Apply Innovative Strategies to Enhance Motivational Interviewing:

- Explore new approaches to MI, including the integration of technology, the use of peer support and recovery specialists, and culturally tailored interventions.

- Review recent research and case studies demonstrating the effectiveness of these innovative strategies.

3. Integrate Personal Experiences with Professional Practices in SUD Recovery:

- Learn how personal recovery journeys can be leveraged to improve client outcomes.

- Understand the benefits of a holistic approach that combines evidence-based practices with personal insights.

By the end of this session, participants will be equipped with practical knowledge and innovative strategies to improve their application of Motivational Interviewing in SUD recovery, enhancing their ability to support clients on their recovery journeys.

Synopsis & Objectives: 

A dietitian’s role in treating individuals with substance use disorders is as an adjunct to formal therapy that attempts to restore an individual’s physical health, reverse damage to the system produced by malnutrition, and help the individual to feel healthy and energetic in order to face the challenges of recovery. 

Medical Nutrition Therapy for substance use disorders (MNT for substance use disorders) is a form of nutrition-based therapy provided by a dietitian.

These MNT components will include:

Focuses on stabilizing the client’s mood and reducing stress through sound nutritional practices

Is designed to nourish and heal bodily systems that have been damaged by the abuse of alcohol or drugs

Attempts to assist in the reduction of cravings for alcohol and/or drugs

Addresses medical conditions that have may resulted from substance abuse, such as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome

Encourages the development of positive self-care routines and a healthy lifestyle that can foster recovery from a substance use disorder

Synopsis & Objectives:

Social media (SM) engagement among adolescents has skyrocketed since the pandemic, transforming teen interactions and relationships. Clinicians understand that SM positively and negatively influences mental health, but remain unaware of the most clinically relevant mechanisms and related opportunities.  

We will review clinical and research evidence regarding specific means by which SM affects mental health.  Metanalytic reviews of available studies indicate a significant association between SM and adolescent ill-being, with a small to moderate effect size, although variation in findings is considerable.  

SM engagement confers opportunities for teen development of capacity for intimacy and self-esteem as well as solicitation of peer support and psychoeducation.  Unique qualities of SM experiences, which uniquely impact mental health, include social comparison and FOMO, contagion effects, digital distraction, misinformation, and SM conflict.  

The relationship between SM and mental illness depends on characteristics of the user (e.g., social comparison & fear of missing out (FOMO) and specific SM habits (e.g., late night use) and experiences (e.g., cyberbullying, sexting).  Incorporation of how such factors interact with the adolescent psyche is vital to a contemporary psychiatric formulation.  Clinicians must understand complexities of the relationship between SM and mental health in order to best evaluate and advise our patients. This program will educate clinicians on how SM habits and experiences affect psychopathology for better and worse. 

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity participants will be able to:

1) Describe how social media interacts with mental health, depending on specific characteristics of the user, as well as social media habits and experiences.

2) Understand the concept of mental health contagion and how it occurs via social media.

3) Evaluate our patient’s social media use and its importance for psychiatric diagnosis and treatment.

Synopsis & Objective:  

This training will describe the landscape of gambling in CT. We will identify risk factors, warning signs, as well as ways gambling co-occurs with mental health and substance misuse issues. 

Research shows that individuals who are currently experiencing other behavioral health concerns are 10x more likely to develop a problem with gambling. We know that many people who receive services for other concerns may not disclose information about their gambling behavior at first. In this training, we will discuss the similarities and differences between gambling and substance use disorders.  

We will explore clinical criteria for Gambling Disorder in the DSM-5, brain biology and participate in an interactive activity highlighting risk. Screening and conversation tools will be shared as well as resources for prevention, treatment, and recovery. 

Learning Objectives: 

Understand the landscape of gambling in CT.

Describe the progression of gambling from recreational to Gambling Disorder.

Identify resources in the community for those impacted by gambling related harms

Synopsis & objectives:

Understand drug and alcohol addiction is often diagnosed in conjunction with other mental health concerns (co-occurring disorders).

Learn preventative measures to decrease risk of drug and alcohol abuse in children/adolescents.

Learn tips/resources for providers about how they can engage patients who are struggling with SUDs, without being mental health professionals.

Synopsis & Objectives: 

Review of Complex PTSD as a distinct entity from PTSD as described in the DSM, including its criteria, common clinical presentations, common co-morbidities, and useful treatment strategies.

Synopsis & Objectives:

This presentation will delve deeper into understanding the use of Artificial Intelligence in behavioral health, including current scope and possible future use of AI and chatbot in behavioral health and in healthcare, in general.

Synopsis & Ojectives:

This discussion focuses on the way in which the prenatal period and early childhood impacts an individual throughout the lifespan, particularly when considering relational trauma. Often, these individuals do not meet criteria for any particular DSM 5 diagnosis, particularly not a diagnosis of PTSD, however, these experiences impact an individual in such a deep way that it cannot be ignored. Accepting that relational trauma can only be healed through relationship empowers treatment providers when working with those who have experienced this type of trauma. 

Objectives: 

1. The learner will be able to identify at least two ways in which trauma during the prenatal time period impacts an individual throughout the lifespan. 

2. The learner will be able to identify at least two ways in which “relational trauma” impacts an individual’s life-long relationships. 

3. The learner will be able to identify ways in which the relationship between the client and treatment provider can help to resolve historical, relational trauma.