Organised by the EPA Sections on Old Age Psychiatry and Psychopharmacology. Patients with mental disorders are frequently treated for other comorbidities, including psychiatric and somatic comorbidities. While often underreported and undertreated, somatic comorbidities represent a high burden in patients with mental disorders and represent the most important cause of death. The most prevalent somatic comorbidities are cerebral- and cardiovascular diseases, different infections, and metabolic diseases. Insomnia and pain also frequently occur in multimorbid elderly patients. Despite a high burden of somatic comorbidities in this population, different studies have shown their inadequate treatment, low screening, and low treatment rates have been described. Medication selection in this population is mainly based on possible drug-drug interactions and irrational polypharmacy minimizing, often presented in this population. There are some tools available to help in pharmacotherapy selection in clinical practice, including different medication lists (e.g., Beers criteria, STOPP/START, and general guidelines). Although most important evidence-based papers and treatment guidelines describe the treatment of psychiatric disorders by often excluding somatic and non-somatic comorbidities. In this context, pharmacotherapy of comorbidities is complicated, and well-designed treatment guidelines are urgently needed. This proposed joint workshop of the Section of Old Age Psychiatry and the Section of Psychopharmacology will address a neglected topic: how to treat somatic and non-somatic comorbidities in elderly patients with mental disorders. Experts in psychiatry and psychopharmacology will address pharmacotherapy in this vulnerable population. The participants will learn how to treat these patients supported by the evidence-based data and real clinical pharmacological tools useful for daily practice.

Organised by the EPA Section on Psychopharmacology. This interactive, evidence-based course has been designed for early carrier psychiatrists, however other colleagues - especially those, who teach/supervise residents - also may benefit from the structured teaching material. The content of the course is primarily built on landmark studies and the data which will be discussed includes real world evidence as well. The participants should be able after completing the course to individually plan antipsychotic treatment for patients with schizophrenia and with some other psychotic disorders. The course will have a clinical focus and includes the following topics: • Short and long term treatment of schizophrenia with antipsychotics • Dose response relationship of antipsychotic drugs: How to define the right dose? Is there a therapeutic window? How do patients benefit from the use of therapeutic (plasma level) drug monitoring? • How to choose from different formulations of antipsychotics, e.g. different tablet forms, solution, rapid acting and long acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics? • Comparative effectiveness of antipsychotics • Pharmacological treatment of negative symptoms in schizophrenia • The role of antipsychotics and other drugs in the management of agitation, suicidal and violent behavior in schizophrenia • Partial response, non - response and treatment resistance: Antipsychotic monotherapy vs. polypharmacy and the role of clozapine treatment • Possible treatment strategies to avoid antipsychotic polypharmacy • Length of antipsychotic treatment in schizophrenia; how to discontinue antipsychotic treatment; risks of antipsychotic withdrawal • Antipsychotic treatment in the elderly: schizophrenia and psychosis related to dementia • Management of the most frequent side effects and drug-drug interactions during treatment with antipsychotics