While most psychiatrists agree that lifestyle factors play an important role in mental health, many are unprepared to address these in the clinical encounter. This course will provide a foundational review of the science, literature, and practical tools for the clinician both as primary interventions and in conjunction with psychopharmacology and/or psychotherapy. This course will review exercise, nutrition, yoga, sleep health, and social connectivity. We begin with a review of the neuroscience of physical exercise and impact on brain health. The impact of active or sedentary behavior on risk for psychiatric disorders and evidence on use of exercise interventions to manage psychiatric disorders with be discussed. A case presentation with highlight the strategies for supporting people in developing a physical exercise routine in clinical care. The role of diet and nutritional psychiatry on mood disorders and cognitive disorders will be presented. The proposed expansion of the bio-psycho-social model to the bio-psycho-social-lifestyle model will be presented (Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatry). The strategies to incorporate nutritional psychiatry science in clinical practice will be addressed in a case presentation. Next, we presented the growing research on the therapeutic application of yoga for people with psychiatric disorders. Yoga is theorized to exert its effects through regulation of the autonomic nervous system and hypothalamic pituitary axis. Yoga is recommended as second-line adjunctive therapy for mild to moderate Major Depressive Disorder, and there is evidence for yoga as an intervention for anxiety, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, eating disorders, trauma, and substance use disorders, and for child and adolescent populations. Actionable clinical recommendations for yoga and applications for general psychiatrists based on the existing literature will be highlighted. Our course then addresses the impact of sleep on health including cognition, mental health, immune function, physical performance, and injury risk stressing the importance of healthy sleep as a lifestyle anchor. The concept of accumulated sleep debt and ways to pay it back through sleep extension will be discussed. We will provide practical strategies for improving sleep duration, sleep quality, and sleep timing. Through professional athlete sleep success stories, we will illustrate the impact of improving sleep and how it can significantly improve performance. We will end the course with a review of the science of social connectivity including the recent literature and practical applications for clinical practice. The attendees will engage in a small group exercise to practice the power of social connection. Multiple question and answer sessions with active audience engagement will be present during the course and special consideration for diversity, equity, and inclusion through lifestyle interventions will be presented throughout the course.
Format
4 hours asynchronous
Learning Objectives
- Summarize iterative behavioral reinforcement strategies to support patients in achieving sustained independent exercise.
- Evaluate the evidence for the efficacy of yoga for people with psychiatric disorders.
- Describe how global dietary changes improve mood and enhance remission rates from depression and may prevent the risk of cognitive disorders.
- Apply the science of accumulated sleep debt and the benefits of sleep extension to clinical practice.
- Identify evidence-based social connectivity strategies that support mental health.
Outline
- Introduction
- Exercise and brain health
- Diet and nutrition in depression and cognitive disorders
- Yoga for people with psychiatric disorders
- Sleep Health
- Connectedness
Target Audience
Residents/Fellows, Psychiatrists, Psychologists
Estimate Time to Complete
Estimated Duration: 4 hours
Program Start Date: June 26, 2023
Program End Date: August 25, 2023
Attendees will have an opportunity to participate in Q&A.
How to Earn Credit
After evaluating the program, participants will be provided with an opportunity to claim hours of participation and print an official CME certificate (physicians) or certificate of participation (non-physicians) showing the event date and hours earned.
Continuing Education Credit
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The APA designates this enduring CME activity for a maximum of 4 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Faculty and Planner Disclosures
The American Psychiatric Association adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CME activity — including faculty, planners, reviewers or others — are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.
Instructors
- Gia Merlo, MD, Adult Psychiatry at NYU Langone Health. Has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
- Douglas Noordsy, MD, Clinical professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
- Vanika Chawla, MD, Psychiatry Specialist at Stanford. Has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
- Jonathan Burgess, MD, Medical Doctor, Author, Speaker, Yogi, and Published Chef. Has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
- Cheri Mah, MD, Clinical and Translational Research Fellow at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Human Performance Center. Has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Planners
- Gia Merlo, MD, Adult Psychiatry at NYU Langone Health. Has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
- Douglas Noordsy, MD, Clinical professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
- Vanika Chawla, MD, Psychiatry Specialist at Stanford. Has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
- Jonathan Burgess, MD, Medical Doctor, Author, Speaker, Yogi, and Published Chef. Has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
- Cheri Mah, MD, Clinical and Translational Research Fellow at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Human Performance Center. Has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Accessibility for Participants with Disabilities
The American Psychiatric Association is committed to ensuring accessibility of its website to people with disabilities. Please contact the American Psychiatric Association at 202-559-3900, if you require assistance seven (7) business days prior to the start of a live webinar.
Technical Requirements
This internet-based CME activity is best experienced using any of the following:
- The latest and 2nd latest public versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari
- Internet Explorer 11+
This Web site requires that JavaScript and session cookies be enabled. Certain activities may require additional software to view multimedia, presentation, or printable versions of the content. These activities will be marked as such and will provide links to the required software. That software may be: Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Windows Media Player.
Optimal System Configuration:
- Browser: Google Chrome (latest and 2nd latest version), Safari (latest and 2nd latest version), Internet Explorer 11.0+, Firefox (latest and 2nd latest version), or Microsoft Edge (latest and 2nd latest version)
- Operating System: Windows versions 8.1+, Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) +, Android (latest and 2nd latest version), or iOS/iPad OS (latest and 2nd latest version)
- Internet Connection: 1 Mbps or higher
Minimum Requirements:
- Windows PC: Windows 8.1 or higher; 1 GB (for 32-bit)/2 GB (for 64-bit) or higher RAM; Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content
- Macintosh: Mac OS X 10.5 or higher with latest updates installed; Intel, PowerPC G5, or PowerPC G4 (867MHz or faster) processor; 512 MB or higher RAM; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content
For assistance: Contact educme@psych.org for questions about this activity | Contact learningcenter@psych.org for technical assistance