Clinical Audit On Cognitive Aspects of Depression: Advanced Clinical Training for Psychiatrists

About The Course

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Cognitive dysfunction is a key feature of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). These impairments, including attention and memory deficits and cognitive-affective biases, significantly impact psychosocial functioning, disrupting workplace performance and relationships. Even in remission, these deficits persist for many, with up to 50% of patients experiencing residual cognitive symptoms. Recognising and addressing these challenges is essential for achieving comprehensive recovery.

This course focuses on the cognitive dimensions of depression, exploring the impact of cognitive dysfunction in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Clinicians will learn to identify and treat cognitive biotypes using the ACE model, improving patient outcomes. A clinical audit will assess strategies for addressing cognitive symptoms in depression, including pharmacological treatments and cognitive remediation therapies.

Who Is This Course For?
This course is suitable for:

• Psychiatrists
• General Practitioners (GPs)
• Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (MHNPs)
• Psychologists
• Mental health professionals
• Clinicians working in or expanding into psychiatry and mental health care

Accreditation Information:

• Psychiatry Accreditation: This course is available for self-accreditation with the RANZCP and other relevant psychiatric and mental health organisations.
• Upon completion, participants will receive 8 CPD hours (EA 1 hour, RP 1 hour, MO 6 hours) and a certificate of completion, which can be used to claim CPD.

What You'll Learn

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• Analyse the impact of cognitive dysfunction in MDD, including its role in distorted information processing and decision-making in depression.
• Evaluate the implications of cognitive symptoms on psychosocial functioning, focusing on workplace performance and relationships.
• Integrate an approach for treating Major Depressive Disorder that addresses mood and cognitive impairments using the ACE model to enhance treatment outcomes.
• Assess the effectiveness of current pharmacological treatments for Major Depressive Disorder in managing cognitive dimensions, including emerging multimodal agents and cognitive remediation therapies.
• Formulate strategies to focus comprehensively on cognitive symptoms when treating Major Depressive Disorder, improving treatment outcomes.

Course Programme

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3 Parts | 14 Concepts | 8 hours total length

Part 1: Major Depressive Disorder & Cognition

• The Epidemiology of Major Depressive Disorder
• Cognitive Impairment in Depression 
• The ACE Model: Assessing Cognition
• Clinical Insights on Cognition
• The Cognitive Dimensions in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
• How is Cognitive Performance Conceptualised?
• Pharmacological Treatments
• Treatments for the Cognitive Aspects of Depression
• Patient Perspectives on Recovery

Part 2: Identifying the Psychosocial Impact of Cognitive Symptoms

• Identifying the Psychosocial Impact of Cognitive Symptoms: Application Through Clinical  Case Studies
• Case Study 1: Rowan
• Emotion Regulation, Cognitive Control and Flexibility, Response Inhibition, Self-Referent Negative Processing and Decision Making - Explained
• Case Study 2: Sarah

Part 3: Multidimensional Assessment of Depression through Clinical Audit 

• Applying the Cycle in Clinical Practice - PDSA

Knowledge Check

• Knowledge Check

Course Description

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Addressing the Cognitive Dimensions of Depression – A Clinical Audit.

Dr. Sanil Rege provides an overview of the course’s key aims and introduces the clinical audit process. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how cognitive dysfunction impacts Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and its treatment. It includes CPD framework details and a pre-program reflection task, allowing clinicians to engage with the course content critically before moving on to the main audit task.

This course is designed for clinicians, including psychiatrists, GPs, Nurse Practitioners, psychologists, and allied health professionals.

Part 1: Major Depressive Disorder & Cognition

In this module, we will dive deeper into the cognitive aspects of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), covering several essential topics:

• Epidemiology of MDD: An overview of depression’s prevalence and impact.
• Cognitive Impairment in Depression: Understanding how cognitive dysfunction affects MDD.
• The ACE Model: A framework for assessing cognitive, emotional, and activity-related symptoms, supporting treatment goals like remission.
• Clinical Insights and Treatments: Exploring pharmacological options, including vortioxetine and duloxetine, to manage cognitive symptoms.
• Patient Perspectives: Real-world insights into the recovery process.
  This module equips clinicians with a comprehensive approach to treating the cognitive dimensions of depression.

Part 2: Identifying the Psychosocial Impact of Cognitive Symptoms

In this section, you’ll explore the psychosocial impact of cognitive symptoms through two clinical case studies, enhancing your understanding of cognitive dysfunction in depression.

• Case Study 1: Rowan – Rowan, shares his experience living with cognitive symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). His insights into altered thinking styles and emotional regulation highlight the significant impact on his day-to-day life. Watch Rowan’s video and identify cognitive domains, such as emotion regulation, cognitive flexibility, and decision-making, as part of the activity. This will help you recognise these patterns in clinical practice.
• Case Study 2: Sarah – The second case study, featuring Sarah, offers opportunities to match cognitive symptoms to their respective domains. This interactive task will help you solidify your understanding of treating cognitive symptoms in depression, improving your clinical practice.

Part 3: Multidimensional Assessment of Depression through Clinical Audit

This section delves into the clinical audit process, a key method for improving depression care. This module outlines the cycle of quality improvement, emphasizing planning, performance measurement, and sustained improvements in clinical outcomes.

Applying the Cycle in Clinical Practice
Using tools like the Psych Scene Cognitive Questionnaire (PSQ), clinicians will learn to assess cognitive symptoms in major depressive disorder (MDD), applying the Plan-Do-Study-Act-Review method to create actionable goals and enhance treatment strategies.

Course Features

Addressing the Cognitive Dimensions of Depression – A Clinical Audit includes a variety of interactive content to keep participants engaged, such as videos, varied activities, downloadable medication prescribing cheat sheets, and infographics. A knowledge check at the end of the course will help solidify key concepts.

Upon completion, participants will receive 8 CPD hours (EA 1 hour, RP 1 hour, MO 6 hours) and a certificate of completion, which can be used to claim CPD.

This course explores the cognitive dimensions of depression, combining clinical audits and case studies to enhance treatment approaches. Learn effective strategies for improving patient outcomes and addressing cognitive symptoms in depression.