COURSE INFORMATION
This comprehensive CE course provides a comprehensive overview of research, biology and nutrient treatments specifically related to brain disorders to include psychiatric illness and Alzheimer’s disease. Students study the basic concepts of brain chemistry, epigenetics and the role of nutrients in mental health. History, theories, symptoms, biochemical classifications and studied nutrient therapies of many psychiatric illnesses extensively reviewed.
Course Code: HH 510. Contract hours of education: 30 hours.
Instructor/Course Author: Rebecca Belschner, FNP-BC, SMC-C, HIHC-CSp
Is an Advanced Practice Nurse, a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Rebecca has 25 years in healthcare experience focusing from acute care, family practice, women’s health, mental health, occupational health and pediatrics. She is currently certified as a stress management consultant as well as holistic and integrative health care. She has recently been published by Covenant Books: Stress almost killed me, literally: And it could kill you too.
Link to Resume: access here
TIME FRAME: You are allotted two years from the date of enrollment, to complete all of the courses in the Holistic & Integrative health care practice program. There are no set time-frames, other than the two year allotted time. If you do not complete the courses within the two-year time-frame, you will be removed from the course and an “incomplete” will be recorded for you in our records. Also, if you would like to complete the courses after this two-year expiration time, you would need to register and pay the course tuition fee again.
TEXTBOOKS: There are one (1) required textbook for this course.
Nutrient Power: Heal Your Biochemistry and Heal Your Brain by William J. Walsh PhD
- ISBN-10: 1626361282
- ISBN-13: 978-1626361287
Link to Purchase on Amazon.com: Click here
GRADING: You must achieve a passing score of at least 70% to complete this course and receive the 55 hours of awarded continuing education credit. There are no letter grades assigned. You will receive notice of your total % score. Those who score below the minimum of 70% will be contacted by the and options for completing additional course work to achieve a passing score, will be presented.
BOARD APPROVALS: The American Institute of Health Care Professionals Inc: is an Approved Provider for Continuing Education by the South Carolina Professional Counselors, Marriage & Family Therapists and Psycho-Educational Specialists licensing board, Provider # 4637.
AIHCP is an approved provider of continuing education by the American Institute of Health Care Professionals (The Provider) is approved by the California Board of Registered Nurses, Provider number # CEP 15595 for 30 Contact Hours. Access information
This course, which is approved by the Florida State Board Of Nursing (CE Provider # 50-11975) also has the following Board of Nursing Approvals, for 30 contact hours of CE
The American Institute of Health Care Professionals Inc: is a Rule Approved Provider of Continuing Education by the Arkansas Board of Nursing. CE Provider # 50-11975.
The American Institute of Health Care Professionals Inc: is a Rule Approved Provider of Continuing Education by the Georgia Board of Nursing. CE Provider # 50-11975.
The American Institute of Health Care Professionals Inc: is a Rule Approved Provider of Continuing Education by the South Carolina Board of Nursing. CE Provider # 50-11975.
The American Institute of Health Care Professionals Inc: is a Rule Approved Provider of Continuing Education by the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Professional Registered Nurses. CE Provider # 50-11975.
The American Institute of Health Care Professionals Inc: is a Rule Approved Provider of Continuing Education by the New Mexico Board of Nursing. CE Provider # 50-11975.
Course Refund & AIHCP Policies: access here
ONLINE CLASSROOM RESOURCES AND TOOLS
* Examination Access: there is link to take you right to the online examination program where you can print out your examination and work with it. All examinations are formatted as “open book” tests. When you are ready, you can access the exam program at anytime and click in your responses to the questions. Full information is provided in the online classrooms.
* Student Resource Center: there is a link for access to a web page “Student Resource Center.” The Resource Center provides for easy access to all of our policies/procedures and additional information regarding applying for certification. We also have many links to many outside reference sites, such as online libraries that you may freely access.
* Online Evaluation: there is a link in the classroom where you may access the course evaluation. All students completing a course, must, without exception, complete the course evaluation.
* Faculty Access Information: you will have access to your instructor’s online resume/biography, as well as your instructor’s specific contact information.
* Additional Learning Materials: some faculty have prepared additional “readings” and /or brief lecture notes to enhance your experience. All of these are available in the online classrooms.
Course Objectives: Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Recall the history of mental illness and proposed etiologies
- Define neuron and identify parts and function of each part
- Explain the function of a neurotransmitter and name the primary ones associated with psychiatric illness
- Discuss the life cycle of a neurotransmitter
- Explain how nutrients affect neurotransmitter function
- Discuss the function of a neuron transporter
- Discuss how selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) work in the body
- Recall which neurotransmitter is associated with which specific mental illness
- Review the benefits of biochemical therapy in mental illness
- Recall historical figures who researched nutrient therapies for the treatment of psychiatric illness
- Differentiate methylation and acetylation
- List the primary nutrient imbalances associated with psychiatric illness
- Recall the actions of copper in the body and potential psychiatric outcomes of copper overload
- Discuss actions of vitamin B6 in the body and the potential psychiatric symptoms/diagnoses associated with vitamin B6 deficiency
- Discuss that neurotransmitters are directly affected by vitamin B6 levels
- Recall the actions of zinc and what psychiatric illness is associated with zinc deficiency
- List what neurotransmitters are directly affected by zinc levels
- Recall which psychiatric illness are associated with abnormalities in methylation and folate chemistry
- Define the meaning of oxidated stress
- Identify a pyrrole and its function
- List the symptoms of pyrrole disorder
- Recall which nutrients are deficient in pyrrole disorder
- Discuss the role of amino acids in brain chemistry
- Recall how glucose dysregulation can affect mental health
- Define epigenetics
- Recognize the purpose and parts of DNA
- Outline the two dominant epigenetic processes
- Recall which enzymes are needed for the attachment and removal of methyl and acetyl groups at histone tail
- Recall which nutrients impacts neuron transporters at neuron synapses
- Recall the two types of epigenetic therapy
- List the epigenetic disorders in psychiatric illness
- Recall the history of schizophrenia and list its subtypes
- Name the primary symptoms of schizophrenia
- Summarize the recorded theories of the etiology of schizophrenia
- Summarize the biotypes of schizophrenia, what lab results are expected to be seen with each biotype and symptoms of each biotype
- Recall which psychiatric medications that should be avoided by which biotype of schizophrenia
- Summarize the Walsh theory of schizophrenia
- Review the history of depression as well as typical symptoms seen
- Recall the biotypes of depression, what neurotransmitter is affected by each biotype, what lab results can be expected with each biotype and expected symptoms with each
- List which nutrients should be avoided with undermethylated depressed patients
- Recall who was first to report about autism spectrum disorders
- Review the history and current theories of the cause of autism spectrum disorders
- Recognize the presenting symptoms and traits of autism
- Discuss what can cause regression in autism
- Recall the primary brain structures affected in autism
- List potential biochemical therapies noted for autism
- Review the epigenetic model for autism
- Summarize the Walsh model for autism
- Discuss the biochemical disorders found in each type of attention deficient hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intermittent explosive disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder and antisocial personality disorder
- Outline the 2004 Outcome study and what it measured
- Discuss typical nutrient therapy timeframes and what biological factors that can delay the progress
- Define Alzheimer’s disease and list the risk factors for its development
- Recall the stages of Alzheimer’s disease
- Summarize how genetics play a role in Alzheimer’s disease
- Outline all the historical and current theories of the etiology of Alzheimer’s disease
- Recall the five-step process to advanced nutrient therapy
- List which lab tests are recommended when suspecting potential disordered brain chemistry
- Identify which nutrients are recommended elevated neurotransmitter disorder
- Identify which nutrients are recommended by low neurotransmitter disorder
- Recall potential roadblocks to treatment compliance
- Discuss the three types of potential adverse reactions in nutrient therapy
- List the ten most frequent reasons for treatment failure
COURSE CONTENT
- The biochemical revolution
- The birth of neurotransmitters
- The power of nutrients
- Biochemical individuality
- Brain chemistry 101 (neuron and the neurotransmitter)
- Benefits of biochemical therapy
- Abram Hoffer’s and Dr. Carl Pfeiffer’s research on the etiology of schizophrenia and nutrient therapies for schizophrenia
- Repeat biochemical imbalances seen in psychiatric illness
- Elevated and decreased copper levels and its association with psychiatric illness
- Vitamin B6 deficiency and its association with psychiatric illness
- Zinc deficiency and its association with psychiatric illness
- Methyl/folate imbalances and its association with psychiatric illness
- Oxidative stress and its association with psychiatric illness
- Amino acid disorders and its association with psychiatric illness
- Fatty acid imbalance, glucose dysregulation, toxic overload, malabsorption and their association with psychiatric illness
- Explanation of the biology of epigenetics
- Epigenetics and brain functioning
- Two types of epigenetic disorders and therapy
- Epigenetics and nutrient therapy
- Identification of epigenetic disorders in psychiatric illness
- History of schizophrenia
- Schizophrenia theories
- Biochemical classification of the schizophrenias
- Biotypes of schizophrenia
- The Walsh theory of schizophrenia
- History of depression
- Depression biotypes with symptoms of, neurotransmitter imbalances and potential nutrient treatment of each
- Autism history, genetics, epigenetics and environment
- Autism symptoms, traits, differential diagnoses and regression
- Autism and associated health problems
- Biochemical features of autism
- Biochemical therapies for autism
- Biochemistry of behavioral disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- Nutrient therapy and behavioral disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- Walsh’s 2004 Outcome study
- Nutrient therapy timelines
- Alzheimer’s disease (history of, stages of, risk factors, theories)
- Advanced nutrient therapy process
- Nutrient therapy compliance and failure considerations