Introduction to Root Causes – HPA Axis

Chronic stress and HPA axis dysregulation are often present in mental health disorders but are commonly overlooked. Conventional ways of diagnosing cortisol irregularities simply fall short when assessing adrenal insufficiency. There is a wide range of adrenal function between the extremes of Cushing’s and Addison’s diseases. Although the concept of Adrenal Fatigue is controversial, patients often report significant benefits to natural remedies which carry a low risk of harm.

In this course,you will learn how to recognize signs and symptoms of adrenal insufficiency, and the pros and cons of different testing methods. You’ll learn how to order a 4 time point saliva cortisol test, how to interpret healthy and abnormal cortisol curves, and specific treatment interventions based on the results. We explore best practices for recommending specific  adrenal protocols for symptom reduction in anxiety, insomnia, PTSD, anxiety disorders, MDD, post-partum period and chronic stress.

We’ll discuss different micronutrient treatments for  mild, moderate, and severe cases of adrenal fatigue, and discover new options for integrative treatment plans to boost resilience while enabling your patients to achieve new dimensions of wellness. 

• Discover the IPI approach to resolving root causes of symptoms
• Recognize adrenal insufficiency
• Implement treatment plans in order to boost resiliency

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CME/CE Information

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the University of Colorado School of Medicine and the Integrative Psychiatric Institute. The University of Colorado School of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of Colorado School of Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

In order to obtain your CME credit for this course, you will need to take and pass the CME quiz and complete a CME evaluation after watching the video. The quiz will be linked under the video. The Evaluation will follow automatically. If the quiz is passed, you will be prompted to download your CME certificate immediately after.

Will Van Derveer, MD

Will Van Derveer, MD is Co-Founder of Integrative Psychiatry Institute (IPI). He co-created IPI as an expression of what he stands for. First, that anyone can heal, and second that we medical providers must embrace our own healing journeys in order to fully command our potency as healers. Dr. Van Derveer spent the last 20 years innovating and testing a comprehensive approach to addressing psychiatric challenges which transcends the conventional model he learned in medical school at Vanderbilt University and residency at University of Colorado, while deeply engaging his own healing path.

He founded the Integrative Psychiatric Healing Center in 2001 in Boulder, CO, where he currently practices. Dr. Van Derveer regards unresolved emotional trauma as the most significant root cause of psychiatric symptoms in integrative psychiatry practice, along with gut issues, hormone imbalances, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and other functional medicine challenges. He is trained in Somatic Experiencing, EMDR, Internal Family Systems, and other psychotherapy techniques. His current clinical passion is psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, which he mentors interested doctors in providing. An avid meditator, he has been a meditation instructor since 2004.