Mental Health Presentation at ACCP By Dr. S. Nichols

UNE School of Pharmacy’s Associate Professor Stephanie Nichols, PharmD, MPH, BCPS, BCPP, FCCP was invited speaker at the upcoming American College of Clinical Pharmacists meeting in November in Dallas, Texas. Her presentation entitled “Current Bipolar Disorder Treatment Recommendations in People Who are Pregnant” was delivered to an audience of clinical pharmacists, as part of a collaboration between the Women’s Health Practice Regional Network and the Central Nervous System Practice Regional Network. The key take-away of the presentation is that people with bipolar disorder are at high risk of perinatal depression and postpartum psychosis when mood stabilizer therapy is discontinued during pregnancy. Most people with bipolar disorder should remain on mood stabilizer therapy, including lithium, throughout pregnancy, unless they are taking divalproex which is clearly risky and should be switched. Dr. Nichols co-presented with Emma Ferreira, PharmD and Alicia Forinash, PharmD, FCCP, BCACP, BCPS who is an author of the well-known textbook: Briggs Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. Opportunities to present at national meetings allows faculty members to showcase their expertise and network with other leaders in the field throughout the world.