APNA27 Abstract Accepted

Wow! Three years running I have been honored to have my work accepted at the American Psychiatric Nurses Association Annual Conference. I have put to rest my social networking research and gone back to my roots of practice and interest.  Check out the summery, and get ready for APNA27 this October in San Antonio!

 Serotonin OTC: The Latest in Mental Health Nutraceuticals 

Abstract:  The U.S. vitamin and supplement industry grosses nearly $30 billion per year with a growing number of products targeted to the prevention and alleviation of mental health related conditions. Although the industry is regulated by the FDA and products must adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), broad claims of efficacy for mood, sleep, concentration, and other general psychiatric symptoms are not subject to scientific validation. Popular nutraceuticals including GABA, n-acetylcysteine (NAC), and Ashwagandha are advertised as natural alternatives or augmenters to standard psycho-pharmacy, and while consumers who self-medicate without informing their providers may experience a measurable benefit, they put themselves at risk for deleterious outcomes. Consumer interest, desire to decrease pill burden, and product proliferation in the marketplace have encouraged increased research to substantiate health claims, determine potential interactions with medication, and provide a basis for recommendation. This presentation will provide an overview of the functions of 10 common and novel mental health focused nutraceuticals, evaluate the base of evidence for implementation into practice, and provide strategies for educating patients on appropriate use of OTC supplements.

Presentation Summary:  This presentation provides an overview of the functions of common and novel mental health focused nutraceuticals, evaluates the base of evidence for implementation into practice, and provides strategies for educating patients on appropriate use of OTC supplements.

Objective 1:  Identify the key functions of 10 nutraceuticals supplements frequently used in management of mental health disorders.
Objective 2:  Describe potential interactions between classes of psychiatric medication and OTC mental health nutraceuticals.
Objective 3:  Evaluate the evidence base for use of OTC mental health supplements in PMH practice