facebook pixel Skip to main content

Functional & Integrative Medicine for Bipolar Disorder

A Course by James Greenblatt, MD

Course Description

Course fee: $255

Known to the ancient Greeks and Romans as a distinct psychiatric ailment characterized by cyclic extremes of mood and behavior, bipolar disorder remains today one of the most challenging mental illnesses for clinicians to address – challenging to identify, challenging to treat. Mainstream interventions adhering solely to psychopharmaceutical approaches are incomplete, and do not account for biologic factors that so often influence the trajectory of this complex disorder. Through a functional and integrative approach, it becomes possible to address etiologic factors that contribute to BD, and formulate targeted, personalized interventions for patient health.

Taught by Drs. Greenblatt and Bongiorno, this 3-module course presents a functional medicine model for the treatment of bipolar disorder inclusive of multiple therapeutic tiers, including medication, nutritional interventions, and natural therapies.

Instructors will present a novel functional medicine model for the treatment of BD, of which medication is just one of several therapeutic pillars. Approved pharmaceuticals for mania, depression, mixed-episodes, and maintenance will be reviewed in detail, after which the course will explore biochemical abnormalities associated with BD that open the doors to functional interventions. Genetics, nutritional deficiencies that impact neurotransmission and signaling cascades, mitochondrial dysfunction, and other factors will be examined, as will evidence-based interventions that address intrinsic imbalances, support balanced neurochemical signaling, and optimize affective regulation. Clinical pearls and concept-to-application bridges are offered throughout the course, supporting a collaborative, patient-provider paradigm that make balance possible.

Learning Objectives

After completing this program, participants will be able to:

  • Describe traditional psychopharmacology for bipolar disorder
  • Identify a functional medicine model for the treatment of bipolar disorder
  • Explain the relationship between mitochondrial function, bipolar disorder and treatment strategies
  • Analyze natural and integrative therapies for the treatment of bipolar disorder
Register

CE Credit

4.0 credits

Course Level

Introductory

Modules

Module 1 (Dr. Greenblatt)

1. Exploring Bipolar
– Definitions
– BD Mania vs. Depression
– Clinical course
2. Untangling Etiology
– Genetics
– Loci / Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms of interest
– An environment-systems biology model of BD
– Rethinking the Genetics vs. Environment equation
3. Logistical hurdles
– Non-adherence – implications and consequences
– Comorbid conditions
4. A History of Bipolar
– Models and definitions, from Galen to Kraepelin
– The advent of psychopharmacology
– Early- to mid-20th century treatment approaches
5. Medications
– Exploring FDA-approved medications and classes
– Medications indicated for mania, depression, mixed episodes, maintenance
– Rethinking how we prescribe
6. Lithium: A Gold Standard
– John Cade and the lithium breakthrough
– The lithium dose-response curve; elucidating pharmaceutical vs. nutritional
– Lithium, an essential micronutrient; the lithium-deficiency hypothesis
– Mechanisms of neuroprotection
– Lithium as part of a multimodal treatment approach
– Clinical indicators of functional lithium deficiency
– Testing; elucidating blood levels
7. A New Way Forward
– Recommendations for testing, assessment – can we identify BD early?
– Common BD triggers
– Forging a partnership with patients

Module 2: Bipolar Class Plan I (Dr. Bongiorno)

1. Bipolar Disorder: Stats and Epidemiology
– Bipolar incidence, prevalence
– Suicide in BD populations
2. The Bipolar Class Plan
3. The Diagnosis: Classifications and Criteria
4. Underlying Factors:
– Mitochondrial dysfunction (membrane damage, NAD depletion, oxidative damage)
– Toxins
– Genetics (MTHFR, COMT, ANK3, and others)

Module 3: Bipolar Class Plan II (Dr. Bongiorno)

1. Laboratory Testing
– Blood Sugar
– RBCs / anemia
– Iron levels
– Thyroid panel
– Pregnenolone
– Inflammatory Markers
2. Focused Biomedical Analysis: Cortisol other Hormones
3. Organic Acids Testing – indicators of neurotransmitter availability, activity
4. Other Tests
5. An Integrative Approach to Bipolar
– Sleep
– Hydration
– Food
– Exercise
– Spirit / Natura
– Environment
– Detoxification
– Supplements (B vitamins, Omegas, Probiotics, Vitamin D, CBD, Lithium orotate, N-acetyl cysteine)

24/7

Access Anytime Anyplace

1 Year Access

Unlimited Playback

Any Device

Computer, Tablet, or Mobile Device

CE Details

The CE Company is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The CE Company maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

CE Instructions

This online program provides CE training and coursework. Accreditation requires the completion of a post-test. A passing grade of at least 75% must be met on this test in order to obtain certification. Instructions for certification will be provided upon completing the course in full.

Instructor Bio

A pioneer in the field of integrative medicine, James M. Greenblatt, MD, has treated patients since 1988. After receiving his medical degree and completing his psychiatry residency at George Washington University, Dr. Greenblatt completed a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Medical School. He currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer at Walden Behavioral Care in Waltham, MA, and serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Tufts University School of Medicine and Dartmouth College Geisel School of Medicine. Dr. Greenblatt has lectured internationally on the scientific evidence for nutritional interventions in psychiatry and mental illness. He is the author of seven books, including Finally Focused: The Breakthrough Natural Treatment Plan for ADHD. He is the founder of Psychiatry Redefined, an educational platform offering continuing online education, programs, and fellowships on functional and nutritional psychiatry for mental illness.

Dr. Peter Bongiorno is a naturopathic doctor and acupuncturist and serves as co-medical director of InnerSource Natural Health and Acupuncture. He specializes in using integrative care to heal mood disorders. Dr. Bongiorno researched as a pre-doctoral fellow at the National Institutes of Health, and the National Institute of Mental Health’s department of Clinical Neuroendocrinology, where he first studied the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis response to stress. He also researched at Yale University in the department of pharmacology before training at Bastyr University in naturopathic medicine and acupuncture. He has spoken at the Integrative Medicine for Mental Health conference, for general session at A4M, at the Integrative Health Care Symposium in New York City, the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, Council for Responsible Nutrition, American Academy of Environmental medicine, as well as to medical schools and functional medicine physician groups across the country.

Conflict of Interest

The course instructor, James Greenblatt, M.D., is a consultant for Pure Encapsulations and owner of Psychiatry Redefined. He is also a key opinion leader for Fullscript. No assistance or financial compensation of any kind was provided by any outside commercial interest or entity in the development or preparation of this course.

View cancellation, grievance and accessibility policies.

Stay in the know.

Sign-up now for updates, news and exclusive offers! Let’s redefine mental wellness together.

By submitting your information, you agree to receive future email communications from us. We promise to keep your information private, and you can easily unsubscribe at any time.