Webinar: Medication Updates for OCD and Recent Research into Psychedelics

Recorded Webinar | Lifespan

Pharmacology

Pharmacotherapy is effective for many with OCD. Unfortunately, a substantial number of patients do not improve with the best treatments we have to offer, either pharmacotherapeutic or psychotherapeutic. There is therefore an ongoing need for new treatment options. In this symposium, Dr. Rodriguez and Pittenger will briefly review the principles of standard pharmacological treatment of OCD and the current research into new options for those who do not respond to the standard of care. Afterward, the speakers review the latest research in the areas of psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted therapy as it may apply to OCD. Although psychedelic medicines are not approved for any indication and cannot be legally used outside of a research setting, there is increasing excitement about their therapeutic potential.

Faculty: Chris Pittenger MD, PhD; Carolyn Rodriguez, MD, PhD

Learning Objective 1: Attendees will be able to identify evidence-based first- and second-line pharmacological treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Learning Objective 2: Attendees will be able to analyze treatment-resistant OCD, for which less well proven pharmacological strategies may be appropriately considered.

Learning Objective 3: Attendees will be able to explain both strengths and weaknesses of the data supporting various pharmacological treatments for treatment-resistant OCD.

Learning Objective 4: Attendees will identify the latest research in the areas of psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted therapy as it may apply to OCD.

Learning Objective 5: Attendees will be able to communicate the safeguards against adverse outcomes of treatment to their patients.

Learning Objective 6: Attendees will discuss the potential of combining pharmacologic and psychological treatments.