CE Approvals:
This program is approved for NV Psychologists directly by the Nevada Board of Psychological Examiners and also directly by the Board of Examiners for MFTs and LCSWs. It is approved for 4 CE credits, which includes 1 Suicide CE and 2 Ethics CE credits.

***This program is also approved directly by the Nevada Board of Medical Examiners. This program provides 4 CMEs, including 1 CME credit towards the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners' requirement for 2 hours of training related to suicide prevention, intervention and detection every 4 year and 2 hours of training related to Ethics. See below under General Information-CE Approvals for additional details.

Please note: The Nevada Psychological Association is co-sponsoring this event and will be issuing CE certificates to Nevada Psychologists, LCSWs, MFTs and Medical Professionals that wish to receive the 4 CE credits/4 CMEs that have been directly approved by state licensing Boards. NPA does not maintain responsibility for this program or its content as an APA-approved provider of continuing education.

Click here to Register

Co-Sponsored by:
         

About the Workshop:

The goal of this conference is to engage professionals, both prescribers and non-prescribers, members of the public, and introductory psychology students in a discussion of the scientific evidence regarding how medications compare with nondrug treatments for depression, and how patients can effectively collaborate with their doctors about their choices when seeking treatment for depression, in order to maximize benefit and minimize risk.

Learning Objectives:

 At the end of this workshop, attendees will be able to:
1) Understand the differences between the FDA and FAA (Federal Aviation Authority) and the implications for them.
2) Learn at least 2 key details about the history of antidepressants and RCTs. 
3) Cite the landmark NEJM study (Turner et al., 2008) and specify what percentage of antidepressant trials were judged to be positive as analyzed by the FDA.
4) Know how many positive trials the FDA requires in order to approve a new medication for a specific use.
5) Articulate what led the FDA to impose a Black Box Warning that antidepressants can cause suicidal behavior.
6) Identify and address at least one specific physiological antidepressant side effect that is thought to be connected to suicidal behavior.
7) Cite at least 2 studies comparing psychological interventions with antidepressants.
8) Specify at least 2 scientifically supported specific psychological interventions for depression.
9) Ask 2 specific questions of their doctor to help appropriately guide their treatment choices.
10) Walk away with a copy of a model informed consent template they can modify for their own use.
11) Devise at least 2 ways to intervene effectively when treatment goes wrong.

Audience:

This workshop is intended for the entire community, both professionals and nonprofessionals.  Though it will be presented at an intermediate level, it will be delivered in language that the average consumer can digest. It will likely be new information for many mental health professionals because many mental health graduate programs do not cover this information adequately.

About the Speakers/Panel Moderators:

Speakers:
David Healy, M.D. FRCPsych, is a psychiatrist, psychopharmacologist, scientist and author. His main areas of research are the contribution of antidepressants to suicide, conflict of interest between pharmaceutical companies and academic medicine, and the history of pharmacology. Healy has written more than 250 peer-reviewed articles, 200 other articles, and 25 books, including The Antidepressant Era, The Creation of Psychopharmacology, The Psychopharmacologists Volumes 1–3, Let Them Eat Prozac and Mania: A Short History of Bipolar Disorder and The Shipwreck of the Singular: Healthcare’s Castaways.

Healy has been involved as an expert witness in homicide and suicide trials involving psychotropic drugs, and has brought concerns about some medications to the attention of drug regulators. He has also said that pharmaceutical companies sell drugs by marketing diseases and co-opting academic opinion-leaders. In his 2012 book Pharmageddon he argues that pharmaceutical companies have dominated healthcare in America, often with life-threatening results for patients. Healy is a founder and chief executive officer of Data Based Medicine Limited, which aims to make medicines safer through "online direct patient reporting of drug effects".

David O. Antonuccio, Ph.D. is a Professor Emeritus in the Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Nevada School of Medicine, where he taught for 32 years.  Concurrently, he worked for 24 years at the V.A. Medical Center in Reno.  He has also had a private practice for more than 35 years.  He served on the Nevada State Board of Psychological Examiners from 1990 to 1998.  His clinical and research interests include the behavioral treatment of depression, anxiety, and smoking.  He holds a diplomate in Clinical Psychology from the American Board of Professional Psychology and is a Fellow of both the American Psychological Association and the American Psychological Society.  He was named Outstanding Psychologist in 1993 by the Nevada State Psychological Association (NSPA), received an Award of Achievement from NSPA in 1999 for his work on depression, was named the 2000 recipient of the McReynolds Foundation Psychological Services Award for “outstanding contributions to clinical science”, and received the APAHC (Association for Psychologists in Academic Health Settings) Bud Ogel Award for Distinguished Achievement in Research in 2006.  He was named the 2011 recipient of the Ira Pauly Award for outstanding residency teaching in psychiatry at the University of Nevada School of Medicine.  

His articles on the comparative effects of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy have received extensive coverage by the national media and are models of careful scholarship.  He is author or coauthor of over 100 publications including the following peer reviewed scientific articles: Psychotherapy vs. medication for depression:  Challenging the conventional wisdom with data (1995), A cost-effectiveness analysis of cognitive behavior therapy and fluoxetine (Prozac) in the treatment of depression (1997), Raising questions about antidepressants (1999), Antidepressants:  A triumph of marketing over science? (2002), Psychology in the prescription era:  Building a Firewall between Marketing and Science (2003), Treating depressed children with antidepressants:  More harm than benefit? (2008), A Patient Bill of Rights for Psychotropic Medications (2011), and Relabeling the Medications We Call Antidepressants (2012). 

Special Guest Panelist:
Kim Witczak is a leading global drug safety advocate and speaker with over 25 years professional experience in advertising and marketing communications. She became involved in pharmaceutical drug safety issues after the sudden death of her husband due to undisclosed drug side effect of an antidepressant.  Kim co-founded Woodymatters, a non-profit dedicated to advocating for a stronger FDA and drug safety system.  She co-created and organized the international, multi-disciplinary conference Selling Sickness: People Before Profits conference in Washington, D.C.  In 2016, she was appointed Consumer Representative on the FDA Psychopharmacologic Drug Advisory Committee and is on the Board of Directors of National Physicians Alliance and MISSD (Medication Induced Suicide Prevention in Memory of Stewart Dolin.)  She is an active member of the DC-based Patient, Consumer, and Public Health Coalition making sure the voice of non-conflicted patients and consumers is represented in healthcare/FDA related legislative issues.

Co-Moderators:

Dean Hinitz, Ph.D. resides in Reno, Nevada where he has a practice working with athletes, performers, and anyone committed to reaching for their personal stars. He also maintains a clinical and business consultation practice, and is an adjunct professor at the University of Nevada, Reno. 

 Dr. Hinitz has been a champion gymnast and martial artist, and has pressed his limits in running, triathlon, rock climbing, and bowling. Dr. Hinitz works with Team USA, several national champion collegiate bowling programs, numerous Hall of Fame Bowlers, champion athletes, and teams from a wide range of sports. He has worked with corporations as diverse as International Gaming Technology (IGT), The United States Postal Service, Caesar’s Tahoe casino, The City of Reno, Nevada County, and Artown in Reno.

Dr. Hinitz regularly gives seminars on coaching, competing, and maximizing personal potential. Dr. Hinitz is the author of "Focused for Bowling" published in 2003, and the soon to be released “Bowling Psychology.” Both books are applicable to virtually any performing or achievement arena. He has been a contributing writer for Bowling This Month. He is a guest presenter at the Kegel Training Center and has been for more than 15 years

Faraaz Merchant, D.O. has a B.S. from the University of Central Florida with a Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine from Nova Southeastern University. He is a former Psychiatry Resident of the University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine. He is board certified in General Psychiatry and in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.  He currently works at the Nevada Youth Training Center and has worked at Northern Nevada HOPES, the University of Nevada Student Health Center, and True North Treatment Center.  Dr. Merchant also maintains a private practice.  

Discussant:
William Danton, Ph.D., ABPP earned his doctorate in clinical psychology at the University of Houston in 1975. Following an internship at the San Francisco VA Healthcare System, he was employed by the VA Sierra Nevada Healthcare System as Coordinator of Outpatient Mental Health Services and served on faculty at the University of Nevada School of Medicine.  Dr. Danton retired from the VA as Associate Chief of Staff for the Mental Health Service Line in 2003.  He continues teaching as a Clinical Professor of Psychology at the University of Nevada School of Medicine and has a private practice in clinical psychology.

Dr. Danton specializes in hypnosis and cognitive-behavioral psychology. He has been a consistent critic of systemic pharmaceutical overreach. He has published multiple peer reviewed papers on this topic. He was involved the production of a number of media projects, including a promotional video featuring the research collaboration between the Veterans Administration Medical Center and the Medical School, produced with the Department of Educational Support Communications, University of Nevada; Progressive Muscle Relaxation:  A videocassette series, co-produced with J.May, Ph.D.  Used by The U.S. Olympic Ski Teams; Multimedia training packages on hypnosis, psychopathology of everyday life, violence, and suicide; Keeping the Promise A promotional tape for VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System; and Tools for the Mental Game, A hypnosis DVD for golfers, produced in 2004.

Dr. Danton is board-certified in clinical psychology and an Approved Consultant with the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis. He is a past president of the Nevada Psychological Association and the recipient of numerous awards, including a Commendation Award for outstanding contributions to planning, teaching and evaluation of continuing education offerings, Interwest Regional Medical Education Center, Salt Lake City, Utah,  Outstanding Psychologist (James Mikawa Award) 2001, Nevada State Psychological Association, and has received Congressional Recognition from Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, Nevada’s First Congressional District, May 19, 2001. 

MC:
Deacon Shoenberger, Ph.D. is the co-founder and clinical supervisor of Health Psychology Associates, a community-based mental health clinic dedicated to providing high quality evidence-based mental health services to the Northern Nevada community, and also to serve as a training center for interns of all mental health disciplines.  

Dr. Shoenberger has been recognized for his contributions to intern training and licensure, bariatric psychology, and pain psychology.  He currently serves as an advisor and board member to several businesses and organizations, including United Product Development Corporation, Insight Behavioral Health Network, the Obesity Prevention Foundation, HPA Community, and the Paul McReynolds Foundation.  He has a 20-year history of academic research and publication in the areas of anxiety disorders, health psychology, integrated behavioral healthcare, substance abuse, and research and funding issues related to medication approval and withdrawal.   

Program Schedule:

1:00pm to 1:15pm     Introductions and dedications to sponsors

1:15pm to 2:15pm     David Antonuccio, Ph.D. Skills vs Pills for Depression:  How do psychological interventions compare with antidepressants, alone and in combination?

This talk will highlight depression treatment studies that compare medications with psychological interventions, alone or in combination.  Dr.  Antonuccio has published extensively on this topic and has concluded from this research that the psychological interventions appear to be as effective as the medications in the short term and offer more enduring benefit when follow-up longer than 6 months in considered.  This is separate from the adverse events and medical side effects caused by the medications. The goal would be to teach prescribers, non-prescribers, and the lay public how to navigate the conversation about treatment choices without disrespecting organized medicine or patient experience.  Dr. Antonuccio will offer an informed consent template about this conversation that he successfully used for years

2:15pm to 3:15pm   David Healy, M.D. Medicine in Crisis: How to talk to your doctor about psychotropic medications.

In contrast to driving a car, prescription-only medicines make us dependent on a pilot. Pilots are incentivized to keep us safe – if we die, they do too. For doctors, the incentives can work in reverse and a growing number of us need to bring a parachute on any flight.

This talk firmly based on the medical model aims at establishing the evidence that counts for anyone on any of these pills – an evidence hierarchy for Evident Based Medicine.  

It will also tackle myths that inhibit participation in securing the right outcomes - myths about the FDA, about how antidepressants work, about the scientific basis to current standards of care.

It will outline the need for a relationship-based medicine if we want healthcare encounters to work for all parties and how A.I. might facilitate this – or possibly not.

3:15pm to 3:30pm     Refreshment Break

3:30pm to 5:00pm   Panel discussion with the speakers addressing audience and moderator questions

The panel will be comprised of David Healy, M.D., David Antonuccio, Ph.D., and Kim Witczak, a long-time FDA Consumer advocate and panelist.  Questions will come from the audience and the moderators.  No question will be off limits.

5:00pm to 5:30pm Discussant Dr. Bill Danton will react to and summarize the information that has been presented.

Registration Fees

Psychologists/Mental Health Professionals/Medical Professionals (for 4 CE credits/4 CMEs) $100.00
Community Members $20.00
UNR Students $0 if you register online in advance, $10 for walk-ins

About our Co-Sponsors:

The Richard Scott Fee Foundation is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to raising awareness to the often misdiagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and the over prescribing of potentially dangerous narcotic medication to our nation’s youth. Our goal – by speaking at events on school campuses and sharing Richard’s story – is to give students, parents, school faculty and even medical professionals vital information that will help them to make more informed decisions regarding their care and positively affect their lives.

Health Psychology Associates was founded in 2015 by Deacon Shoenberger, PhD, Natalie Sanchez, MFT, and Mick Hall, MFT, LADC as an outpatient mental health clinic to provide treatment to underserved populations and training for future mental health professionals. Along the way, we realized that the struggles of some of our patients are exacerbated by a lack of both effective training and community opportunities for clinicians in our area.  In 2023, HPA Community was formed as a nonprofit focused on bringing evidence based training and diverse experiences to enrich our clinical community.  Past and ongoing clinical projects include didactic seminars on Prolonged Exposure and Cognitive Processing Therapy for trauma, a Trauma Roundtable conference exploring multi-theoretical approaches to trauma treatment, didactic and process-based seminars and consultation groups for clinicians learning Clinical Behavior Analysis, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Cognitive Therapy (CT), and book clubs and consultation groups for clinicians interested in learning and consulting on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for psychosis, self psychology, and Mentalization Based Therapy (MBT).  Training and consultation groups are offered to and led by both employees of HPA and members of the clinical community from multiple states.  Our hope is to support a robust mental health community that challenges and informs clinicians, and also invites them to continue to train, work, and stay connected in the Northern Nevada mental health community.

General Information:

Workshop Location: In the Grand Ballroom at the Joe Crowley Student Union, University of Nevada Reno, 1664 N. Virginia Street, Reno NV 89557. Click here for map.

Parking: West Stadium Parking Garage: UNR does not charge parking fees on weekends so there is no charge for parking.

Food and Beverages: Beverages and assorted snacks will be provided.

Refunds & Grievance Policy: Participants may direct questions or grievances to NPA at (888) 654-0050. An administrative fee of $30 will be charged for cancellation of registration. Please note, no refunds will be granted within 10 days of presentation date.

CE Approval: This CE workshop is approved for 4 CE credits directly by Nevada Board of Psychological Examiners, the Board of Examiners for Social Workers and the Board of Examiners for MFTs. This CE workshop is also approved for 4 CMEs (includes 1 Suicide and 2 Ethics CME) directly by the Nevada Board of Medical Examiners. The Nevada Psychological Association is co-sponsoring this presentation, however the presentation is not approved for CE credit by the Nevada Psychological Association as an APA-approved provider of continuing education. NPA does not maintain responsibility for this program or its content.

***This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine and Nevada Psychological Association (partner). The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education to physicians.

The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 4.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This program meets the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners' requirement for 2 hours of training related to ethics, pain management, or addiction care during each licensure period.

This program provides 1 CME credit towards the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners' requirement for 2 hours of training related to suicide prevention, intervention and detection every 4 years.

Continuing Education Credit
The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine approves this program for 4.00 hours of nursing continuing education credit. Nevada State Board of Nursing provider number 120894-1.
The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine is a provider of continuing education credit through the Nevada State Board of Pharmacy. This program is approved for 4.00 hours of continuing education credit for pharmacists.

References:

Antonuccio, D.O., & Healy, D.  (2012).  Relabeling the medications we call antidepressants.  Scientifica, Volume 2012, Article ID 965908, DOI 10.6064/2012/965908

Healy, D., Bahrick, A., Bak, M., Barbato, A., Calabrò, R. S., Chubak, B. M., ... & Waraich, A. (2022). Diagnostic criteria for enduring sexual dysfunction after treatment with antidepressants, finasteride and isotretinoin. International Journal of Risk & Safety in Medicine, 33(1), 65-76.

Healy, D. (2023). Randomized Controlled Assays and Randomized Controlled Trials: A Category Error With Consequences. Ethical Human Psychology and Psychiatry, 25(2), 119-134.

Healy D.  Cause, effect and adverse events.  Evident Based Medicine or Evidence Based Medicine. Indian J Medical Ethics, February 14, 2025. DOI: 10.20529/IJME.2025.011

Healy D. Big Data, Artificial Intelligence and Clinical Experience. Indian J Medical Ethics February 28, 2025. DOI: 10.20529/IJME.2025.017

Hollon, S. D., DeRubeis, R. J., Andrews, P. W., & Thomson Jr, J. A. (2021). Cognitive therapy in the treatment and prevention of depression: A fifty-year retrospective with an evolutionary coda. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 45(3), 402-417.

Horowitz, M. A., Buckman, J. E., Saunders, R., Aguirre, E., Davies, J., & Moncrieff, J. (2025). Antidepressants withdrawal effects and duration of use: a survey of patients enrolled in primary care psychotherapy services. Psychiatry Research, 116497.

Junqueira, D. R., Zorzela, L., Golder, S., Loke, Y., Gagnier, J. J., Julious, S. A., ... & Vohra, S. (2023). CONSORT Harms 2022 statement, explanation, and elaboration: updated guideline for the reporting of harms in randomised trials. BMJ, 381.

Stone, M. B., Yaseen, Z. S., Miller, B. J., Richardville, K., Kalaria, S. N., & Kirsch, I. (2022). Response to acute monotherapy for major depressive disorder in randomized, placebo controlled trials submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration: individual participant data analysis. Bmj, 378.

Turner, E. H., Matthews, A. M., Linardatos, E., Tell, R. A., & Rosenthal, R. (2008). Selective publication of antidepressant trials and its influence on apparent efficacy. New England Journal of Medicine, 358(3), 252-260.

Conflicts of Interest: Dr. David Antonuccio has made a living from providing psychological interventions. He has worked collaboratively for decades with prescribers in settings where pharmacological interventions are widely used. Dr. Healy has served as a paid consultant to all major pharmaceutical companies but none in the last 3 years.