Course Description
This groundbreaking certificate demonstrates the dramatic shift taking place as a growing number of alternative, holistic, and integrative therapies are being used to treat mental disorders. While the field of integrative medicine emphasizes treating the mind, body, and spirit, integrative mental health offers a new approach to treating mental disorders by applying conventional and evidence-based complementary and alternative therapies. While medication and psychotherapy can save lives, they can also be part of an integrative solution to mental health conditions. Topics covered include anxiety disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, bipolar disorders in children and adolescents, chronic pain, depression, sleep disorders, and mental health and aging.
Courses Included
Anxiety Disorders: An Integrative Approach
Anxiety disorders are the most common, and frequently occurring, mental disorders. Anxiety is manifested by disturbances of mood, as well as of thinking, behavior, and physiological activity. The five major types of anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social phobia disorder (or social anxiety disorder), and panic disorder.
Bipolar Disorder in Children and Adolescents: An Integrative Approach
It is sometimes difficult to determine if a child or adolescent is going through a “phase” or showing signs of a more serious psychiatric challenge such as bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder causes unusual shifts in moods and energy. These shifts are different from the normal “ups and downs” that every child or teenager goes through from time to time. Children and adolescents with bipolar disorder can suffer from damaged relationships, substance abuse, poor school performance, and even commit suicide. However, today there are more treatment options available than ever before for children and adolescents with this disorder.
Sleep Disorders: An Integrative Approach
Sleep disorders are very common complaints and they include difficulty falling asleep, early awakening, and interrupted sleep. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only one-third of adults say they get enough sleep every night. The primary types of sleep disorders, methods of diagnosing sleep conditions, conventional treatments, and integrative approaches to sleep disorders will be presented.
Mental Health and Aging
The enormous increase in the diverse elderly population has prompted a vital societal challenge: the design and delivery of mental health services to the older adult. Because the elderly population in the United States and globally is projected to grow rapidly, the need for geriatric mental health services will also increase dramatically. Continued intellectual, social, and physical activity throughout the life cycle are important for the maintenance of mental health in later life. This course explores the issues of mental wellness strategies for the aging adult, cultural diversity as it relates to mental health, and traditional as well as integrative therapies to support mental health in the aging population.
Depression: An Integrative Approach
Depression is one of the most serious and costly health care problems facing the United States today. It is one of the most common types of mental disorders. Depression interferes with an individual’s daily life, normal functioning, and may cause emotional pain for the individual with the disorder and family and friends. Although depression is a common but serious mental illness, with treatment depressive symptoms can be alleviated.
Chronic Pain: An Integrative Approach to Effective Pain Management
Pain interferes with the enjoyment of life. It makes it difficult to work, socialize with friends and family, sleep, and accomplish activities of daily living. It may reduce productivity and create financial hardships in terms of lost work and high medical bills. Chronic pain can lead to a loss of appetite, depression, and physical weakness as well as a loss of the joy of life.
Alzheimer’s Disease: Mysteries and Possibilities
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a condition in which the concept of loss is profound and central—the loss of one’s memories, independence, ability to recognize loved ones, and dignity. Often referred to as “the long goodbye,” AD is the most common type of dementia, affecting millions of Americans. It is responsible for billions of dollars annually in healthcare costs. However, new research is providing hope for those with Alzheimer’s disease as well as for their families and caregivers.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
When individuals experience a traumatic, terrifying, life-changing event or series of events, with a real or threatened risk of death, they may develop a variety of symptoms known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although this condition has been described throughout history, veterans groups and healthcare providers have been slow to acknowledge its existence or explore the many dimensions of the disorder. Fortunately, this is changing as more individuals begin to discuss the personal and health-related issues concerning PTSD.
ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is an increasingly common neurodevelopmental disorder of childhood. Usually first diagnosed in childhood, it often lasts into adulthood. Children with ADHD have trouble paying attention, focusing, and controlling impulsive behaviors, or they may be overly active.
Purpose / Goal
The outcome of this certificate is for the learner to describe various mental disorders and alternative, holistic, and integrative therapies that are being used to treat these disorders.
Certificate Objectives
Upon completion you will be able to do the following:
- Describe the symptoms, risk factors, and treatment options for ADHD.
- Discuss the symptoms, aspects of care, and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Identify types of anxiety disorders and treatment options.
- Examine symptoms, risk factors, and traditional and integrative treatment methods for bipolar disorder in children and adolescents.
- Describe pain management, types of pain and integrative treatments for chronic pain.
- Describe the different forms of depressive disorders and treatment approaches for depression.
- Discuss the most commonly occurring mental health problems experienced by older adults.
- Examine the nature and extent of PTSD.
- Identify sleep disorders and treatment methods.
Course Content
Target Audience
Nurses, health care professionals, and interested individuals.
Criteria for Successful Completion
Complete the course post exam (CE Test) with a score of 80% or greater. Complete all fields of the course Evaluation Form.
Certificate of Completion is provided for individual courses once the course post exam is passed per criteria above.
Certificate of Completion is provided for certificate programs once all of the courses within the certificate program have been successfully completed per criteria above.
Practice Level (For Occupational Therapy Only): Intermediate
Content Focus (For Occupational Therapy Only): Foundational Knowledge
Commercial Support
No commercial support has been received for this activity.
Jurisdictional Requirements
Continuing education (CE) licensing requirements vary by jurisdiction, are not well defined, and may change. These CE requirements may vary in terms of the number of hours required to the types of courses that must be taken. ALLEGRA Learning Solutions recommends you contact your licensing board or accrediting organization for the latest continuing education requirements of your state or territory. Compliance with CE requirements is the responsibility of the individual health care provider. Health care providers must understand the CE requirements in their jurisdictions, and be sure they are up-to-date on any rule changes that affect their license. For further information, please see our Accreditation information page.
Accommodations for Disabilities
Every effort will be made to accommodate your special needs. To request accommodations, please contact ALLEGRA Learning Solutions at allegra@allegralearning.com
Conflicts of Interest and Relevant Financial Relationships
No one in a position to control content has conflicts of interests or relevant financial relationships to declare for this activity.
Non-endorsement of Products
Accreditation refers to recognition of continuing nursing education only and does not imply ALLEGRA approval or endorsement of any commercial product.
Off-label Use of Products
None of the authors intend to discuss off-label uses of drugs, mechanical devices, biologics, or diagnostics not approved by the FDA for use in the United States.
Instructors
Cyndie Koopsen, RN, BSN, MBA, HNB-BC, RN-BC, HWNC-BC
Caroline Young, MPH
Expiration Date
July 11, 2023
Best Practices
ALLEGRA Learning Solutions, LLC is committed to the development of education programs with the highest quality content. We have a financial interest in the courses we provide. We adhere to strict quality processes in our course creation and delivery. Each course is rigorously researched, peer-reviewed by an external entity, unbiased, and developed to provide current, professionally-relevant, evidence-based materials. We comply with all applicable local, regional, state, and/or national laws and regulations. Integrity, maintaining and exceeding accreditation standards, and the use of ethical, sound business principles are also basic tenets of our philosophy. Images are for illustrative purposes only. Persons depicted are models. The stock photography company retains all model releases.
