Week 2A: Moods and Cycles: Diagnosis and Management of Depression in Women from Menarche to Menopause and Beyond

Confirmed date and Location: July 20-24, 2009, Blue Mountain, Collingwood

Our seminars run from 9:00 to 12:15 daily, allowing registrants to make use of the resort amenities in the afternoons.

Overview:

Throughout most of their lives, women are at greater risk for depression than men. It has been hypothesized that some women may be particularly vulnerable during periods in life that are associated with reproductive events (i.e., premenstrual, postpartum, menopausal transition). These ‘windows of vulnerability’ could occur in part due to a heightened sensitivity to intense hormonal fluctuations. After all, hormones and neurotransmitters share common pathways and receptor sites in areas of the brain linked to mood and behaviour, particularly through the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis.  In this course, we will review the current knowledge on depression in women, examine the underlying mechanisms that may contribute to such an increased risk and discuss state-of-the-art treatment strategies to manage depression in women across the life cycle.

Topics:

Moods and Cycles: How Hormones Affect Mood and Behaviour in Women; Managing peri-menstrual mood and anxiety disorders: PMS, PMDD and PME;  Depression During pregnancy and postpartum: risk factors and treatment strategies; Menopause, mood and cognition: hormonal and non-hormonal treatment options; Clinical and research work on women’s mental health: how to get involved.

Faculty:

Claudio Soares, MD, PhD, FRCP(C),  Associate Professor at the Depts. of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences and Obstetrics and Gynecology at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, where he is also the Academic Head of the Mood Disorders Division and Director of the Women’s Health Concerns Clinic (WHCC).  

Meir Steiner, MD, PhD, FRCP(C), Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences and Obstetrics & Gynecology, McMaster University, Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Adjunct Scientist, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Founding Director, Women's Health Concerns Clinic, Founding Member, Brain-Body Institute, St. Joseph's Healthcare. 

Benicio N Frey, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Medical Staff, Mood Disorders Program & Women's Health Concerns Clinic.

Accreditation:

This educational program meets the accreditation criteria of The College of Family Physicians of Canada, and has been accredited for 15 MAINPRO-M1 credits. This educational program is approved as an Accredited Group Learning Activity under Section 1 of the Framework of CPD options for the Maintenance of Certification Program of The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, for a maximum of 15 hours. Each physician should claim only those hours of credit that he/she actually spent in the educational activity. This educational program is designated for a maximum of 15 hours in Category 1 credit towards the AMA Physician's Recognition Award. Each physician should claim only those hours of credit that he/she actually spent in the educational activity.

Study Credits:

We are in the process of applying for accreditation for this program. The program offered in this week previously met the accreditation criteria of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, and 15 MAINPRO-M1 credits. As an organization accredited by the Committee of Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools, the Continuing Medical Education Program at McMaster University would designate 15 Category 1 credits of the Physician's Recognition Award of the American Medical Association for each weekly seminar. Professional development credits may be given to Social Workers and Nurses. Attendees are advised to retain their letters of attendance.