1047-25: Optimizing With Less: The Art of Deprescribing

This presentation aims to shed light on the crucial topics of deprescribing and polypharmacy within the context of mental health treatment. Attendees will gain insights into strategies for identifying appropriate candidates for deprescribing, developing patient-centered deprescribing plans, and fostering effective communication among healthcare providers to optimize patient care.

Presenter:  Kirby Williams, MSN, PMHNP-BC

Disclosures:  The APNA planners and faculty, with the exception of those listed below, have no relevant financial relationships to disclose. All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated. Off-label uses will not be discussed during this presentation.

Kirby Williams, MSN, PMHNP-BC serves as a consultant and is on the speaker’s bureau for Otsuka America Pharmaceutical.

Session Length:  1 hour 45 minutes

Target Audience:  RN, APRN

Learning Outcome:
Upon completion of this presentation, the participant will be able to:

• Identify at least one principle of deprescribing that you can integrate into your practice next week.

Key Takeaway(s): 

• Deprescribing is a shared decision-making framework, toward the goal of minimum effective medication usage.
• Consider initiating a deprescribing plan early, incorporate nonpharmacologic options before tapering, and taper medications slowly with patient and support system education.

Keywords:  Deprescribing, Psychotropics, Polypharmacy, Psychiatric Medications

Nursing Continuing Professional Development:
1.75 pharmacology contact hours.  * In order to receive contact hours, you must: Listen to the entire presentation, complete the reflection activity, evaluation, and honor statement before the expiration date. Once all steps are successfully completed, a certificate will be generated online and available for you to print immediately. Contact hours cannot be awarded unless all required components are completed. 

The American Psychiatric Nurses Association is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Release Date:  December 16, 2025
Access to this course will end:  December 1, 2027

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