Assessment and Treatment of Anxiety

Even before the pandemic upended our lives, anxiety was the most common mental health disorder in the U.S. Since then, the world has continued to experience disruptive events that have had far-reaching effects and have resulted in unprecedented levels of anxiety and mood disturbance in the general population. This unstable environment co-exists with a shortage of mental health providers and considerable burnout among those still practicing in the field. We are surely living in an age of anxiety. 

Who is suffering from anxiety, and how does it manifest? Why are we seeing these trends? And what can we do to help our patients manage? Join colleagues and faculty experts in person to dig into these questions. 

This course will review updates in the diagnosis and management of anxiety disorders in various populations, from both the psychosocial and pharmacological frames. In addition, we'll explore the more systemic disruptions that are now leading to increased anxiety, such as the warming climate, ubiquitous presence of technology, and social trends. Participants will enhance their clinical practice by identifying and applying targeted strategies to reduce anxiety, foster resiliency, and promote social and emotional growth in their patients. We welcome all health and mental health clinicians interested in the prevention and treatment of anxiety and its related disorders. 

Who Should Attend

• Primary Care Physicians
• Specialty Physicians
• Physician Assistants
• Nurses
• Nurse Practitioners
• Psychologists
• Social workers
• Counselors

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Identify the unique characteristics and trends of specific populations of patients that suffer from anxiety, including children, older adults, gender expansive folks, and pregnant people.
• Summarize unique stressors and environmental issues that contribute to anxiety in different cultural groups.
• Identify and apply in clinical settings how anxiety can be harnessed to develop self-awareness, interpersonal connection, resilience-building, and acceptance of adversity.
• Discuss the influence of social media and "always on" internet culture on the mental health of adolescents.
• Describe how climate change affects mental health, and how to address eco-anxiety specifically.
• List several digital therapeutics that exist for the treatment of anxiety, and outline how they can be assessed and incorporated into clinical practice.
• Apply the techniques of the Unified Protocol to treat anxiety.
• Discuss the optimal use of psychopharmacologic agents in various patient scenarios.
• Review recent research data on the use of psychedelics and mindfulness techniques for anxiety.
• Outline an example of the integrated care model for behavioral health.
• Devise strategies to address workplace-related anxiety in patients and in themselves.

ABMS/ACGME Competencies

This course is designed to meet the following American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS)/ Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Educational (ACGME) competencies:

• Medical Knowledge
• Professionalism
• Patient Care and Procedural Skills
• Interpersonal and Communication Skills

IOM Competencies

This course is designed to meet the following Institute of Medicine (IOM) Competencies:

• Employ Evidence-Based Practice
• Provide Patient-Centered Care

Questions?

Please contact the Continuing Education Programs with any questions by email at ceprograms@hms.harvard.edu.

Jacqueline Bullis, PhD

Assistant Neuroscientist, Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders, McLean Hospital
Assistant Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, Part-Time, Harvard Medical School

Nicole Christian-Brathwaite, MD

Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatrist
CEO/Founder, Well Minds Consulting Company

Nancy Costikyan, MSW

Director of Office/Work Life, Harvard University
Teaching Associate in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

R. Meredith Elkins, PhD

Program Director, McLean Anxiety Mastery Program, McLean Hospital
Instructor in Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

Cara Fuchs, PhD

Vice Chair, Chief of Psychology and Director, Integrated Behavioral Health, Boston Medical Center
Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine 

Meredith Gansner, MD

Attending Psychiatrist, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Boston Children’s Hospital
Instructor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

Rose Goldman, MD

Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

S.J. Langer, LCSW-R

Psychotherapist, Author, WPATH Certified SOC8 Mentor
Faculty, MPS Art Therapy, Humanities & Sciences, School of Visual Arts 

Treniece Lewis Harris, PhD

Associate Professor of the Practice, Lynch School Mental Health Counseling Program, Boston College
Private Practice, CULTURA Psychotherapy & Consulting, LLC

Christopher Lim, MD

Medical Director, Population Health Services, Boston Medical Center Health System
Medical Director, Integrated Behavioral Health Community Partnerships, Boston Medical Center Health System
Assistant Professor, Psychiatry, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

David Osser, MD

Attending Psychiatrist, Domiciliary Residential Treatment Program for Homeless Veterans, Brockton Division of the Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System
Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

Stephen Pinals, MD

Chief, Geriatric Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance
Instructor in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

Elizabeth Pinsky, MD

Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and Pediatrician, Massachusetts General Hospital
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

David Rosmarin, PhD, ABPP

Director, Spirituality and Mental Health Program, McLean Hospital
Associate Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

Ingrid Sarmiento, PhD

Staff Psychologist, Cambridge Health Alliance
Instructor in Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

Mariko Shimizu, MD

Psychiatrist, Cambridge Health Alliance; Instructor in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

Ronald D. Siegel, PsyD

Faculty, Center for Mindfulness and Compassion, Cambridge Health Alliance
Assistant Professor of Psychology (part-time), Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Faculty, Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy

John Torous, MD, MBI

Director of the Division of Digital Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

Priya Sehgal, MD

Chair Diversity Council, Cambridge Health Alliance
Staff Psychiatrist Tufts University, Counseling and Mental Health Services
Instructor in Psychiatry, Part-Time, Harvard Medical School

Course Directors

Rebecca Drill, PhD

Clinical Director, Program for Psychotherapy and Co-Principal Investigator, Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Outcome and Process Investigation, Cambridge Health Alliance
Assistant Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychiatry (part-time), Harvard Medical School

Xenia Johnson Bhembe, MD

Director, Community Minority Affairs Office, Staff Psychiatrist, and Recipient of the Medical Staff Lifetime Achievement Award, Cambridge Health Alliance
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

Karen Kuc, MPH

Director, Continuing Education in Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance​​​
Associate in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

In support of improving patient care, Harvard Medical School is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Physicians

The Harvard Medical School designates this live activity for a maximum of 14.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Psychologists

Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This course offers 14.00 continuing education credits.

Social Workers

This program has been approved for a total of 14.0 Social Work Continuing Education hours for re-licensure, in accordance with 258 CMR. NASW-MA Chapter CE Approval Program Authorization Number D 92746-2. NY Social Workers: Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an Approved Provider #0038 of continuing education for licensed social workers. This course offers 14.00 contact hours.

Counselors

Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5444.  Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry is solely responsible for all aspects of the program. This course meets the requirements for 14.00 continuing education hours, and is also applicable for Commonwealth of Massachusetts Counseling/Allied Mental Health accreditation for 14.00 credits.

Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, and Registered Nurses

For the purpose of recertification, the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board and the American Nurses Credentialing Center accept AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ issued by organizations accredited by the ACCME. We would also suggest that learners check with their state licensing board to ensure they accept reciprocity with AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for re-licensure.

Canadian Accreditation

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada recognizes conferences and workshops held outside of Canada that are developed by a university, academy, hospital, specialty society or college as accredited group learning activities.The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada recognizes conferences and workshops held outside of Canada that are developed by a university, academy, hospital, specialty society or college as accredited group learning activities.

European Accreditation

The American Medical Association (AMA) has an agreement of mutual recognition of continuing medical education (CME) credit with the European Union of Medical Specialties (UEMS). Additional information regarding this agreement may be found here: https://www.ama-assn.org/education/ama-pra-credit-system/agreement-european-union-medical-specialties-uems.

Please note: For psychologists, social workers, and counselors, this course has been approved for a set amount of credits and CHA is not able to issue CE certificates for partial credit; participants must be present and sign in for both days of the live sessions. For any questions regarding CE credit, please email cme@challiance.org.

Disclosure Policy

In accord with the disclosure policy of the Medical School as well as standards set forth by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), course planners, speakers, and content reviewers have been asked to disclose any relationships they have to companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. In addition, faculty have been asked to list any off-label uses of pharmaceuticals and/or devices for investigational or non-FDA approved purposes that they plan to discuss.

Disclaimer

CME activities accredited by Harvard Medical School are offered solely for educational purposes and do not constitute any form of certification of competency. Practitioners should always consult additional sources of information and exercise their best professional judgement before making clinical decisions of any kind. 

Note: AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ is calculated based on submission of a preliminary agenda and may be subject to change.