Psychotropic Medicines
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What you will learn
This module promotes the safe management of psychotropic medicines, a commonly used group of high-risk medicines.
Relevance
This module is intended for all healthcare staff involved in the management of high-risk medicines, specifically psychotropic medicines.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, you will be able to confidently:
- identify what psychotropic medicines are and the main classes within the group
- explain why psychotropic medicines are considered high-risk
- describe indications for psychotropic medicines and circumstances where they may not be appropriate
- discuss the importance of informed consent when using psychotropic medicines
- explain strategies for safe use of psychotropic medicines
- identify strategies to reduce inappropriate usage of psychotropic medicines
- identify and apply resources and tools to support safe psychotropic medicine management.
Duration
30 minutes.
Certificate
On successful completion of the assessments, download a certificate of completion.
Compliance
This module aligns with the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards, Second Edition – Standards 1, 2, 4 & 6.
Disclaimer
This module content was developed by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care and is protected by copyright under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike (BY-NC-ND) 4.0 International License.
The content is provided in good faith by the Commission for information purposes. It is not a substitute for, and is not intended to replace, any specific policies, guidelines or requirements for your local health network or health service.
The Commission does not accept any legal liability or responsibility for any injury, loss or damage incurred by the use of, or reliance on, this information.
Course release dates
| Date | |
|---|---|
| August 2022 | First released. |
Resources
- Australian Medicines Handbook: Psychotropic Drugs (may require subscription).
- Therapeutic Guidelines: Psychotropic (may require subscription).
- Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care: Cognitive Impairment.
- Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care: Delirium Clinical Care Standard.
- Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists Professional Practice guideline 4: ‘Off-label’ prescribing in psychiatry.
- Informed consent for the use of restrictive practice.
- Medication: It’s your choice. It’s your right.
- The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists: Capacity of adults to give informed consent to psychiatric treatment in Australian and New Zealand Mental Health Acts.
- Capacity Australia.
- Supportive resources on shared decision making.
- Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights.
- NSW Therapeutic Advisory Group Deprescribing Tools.
