About the course
Serotonin syndrome is one of the most feared complications in psychiatry, yet one of the most misunderstood. Most “serotonin syndrome” cases in clinical practice are actually anxiety-driven adrenergic activation, medication adjustments, or normal serotonergic side effects — not true toxicity. This CE activity gives clinicians a clear, evidence-supported framework for recognizing real serotonin syndrome using the Hunter Criteria, differentiating it from look-alike conditions, and avoiding unnecessary medication stops or ER referrals. You’ll learn how to spot the motor findings that truly matter, how to interpret reflex changes, and how to judge risk when combining serotonergic medications. Designed as a short, focused micro-course, it equips you with the clinical reasoning skills you need to make fast, confident decisions in real-world outpatient and telepsychiatry settings. What you’ll do in this course:
Objective 1
Describe the key clinical features of true serotonin syndrome using the Hunter Criteria.
Objective 2
Apply evidence-based frameworks to differentiate serotonin toxicity from adrenergic overstimulation or medication activation.
Objective 3
Differentiate between mild serotonergic side effects and true toxicity in real-world practice.
Who Should Take This Course
Designed for: PMHNPs, NPs, PAs, MD/DOs, and mental-health clinicians seeking focused, real-world CE. Level: Intermediate No prerequisites.
Accreditation & Credit
Think Beyond Education is in the process of applying for accreditation as a provider of nursing continuing professional development through the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. This course is currently being offered as part of our pilot and review process. CE credit will be available once accreditation is approved and this activity is formally released.
Michael Van Gelder MS, MN, PMHNP-BC
Michael is a psychiatric nurse practitioner, educator, and CE provider focused on practical, high-clarity clinical reasoning for frontline mental-health clinicians. He combines evidence-based frameworks with real-world experience from outpatient and telepsychiatry settings.
To receive CE credit, learners must:
1. Review all course content/modules 2. Complete the post-test with a passing score of 80% or higher 3. Submit the required course evaluation 4. Download and retain the CE certificate for professional records
FAQ
Q: How long do I have access to the course? A: Learners have lifetime access. Q: Do I need to complete everything at once? A: No. Modules and post-test can be completed at your own pace. Q: How do I receive my certificate? A: Immediately after passing the post-test and completing the evaluation. Q: Are refunds available? A: Refunds are not offered for digital CE products.
Ready to learn something actually useful for real-world practice?
Enroll below to start the course.