Course Description
Introduction to basic pharmacologic, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic principles of medications. Multiple drug classes are discussed with an emphasis on psychoactive drugs, focusing on how the mechanism of action, adverse effects, and drug interactions impact patients’, students’, or clients’ diagnosis, behavior, cognitive ability, and physical ability.
Athena Title
Psychopharmacology
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
After completing this course, students will be able to: Foundational: • Understand basic principles of pharmacology, including: a) How pharmaceuticals work in the body b) Effect of potential drug-drug, drug-disease, and adverse effects impacting therapy or behavior • Recognize different classes of medication a) Drug brand name, generic name, neurotransmitter affected, therapeutic category Application: • Assess, analyze, and manage patient/client cases • Think outside of the “clinical counseling/psychology” box • Model thinking of a pharmacist by applying the foundational knowledge Integration: • Connect medications and disease states present in patients that may impact behavior/mental health • Recognize "grey" areas of prescribing required to treat individual patients/clients Human Dimension: • Evaluate the whole person, not just the DSM-5 diagnosis • Recognize the impact of chronic disease on patient/client quality of life • Develop interprofessional relationships with medical health care providers Caring: • Locate resources needed to assist clients in obtaining comprehensive behavioral healthcare • Recognize the positive and negative impacts that medications and diseases may have on mental health Learning to Learn: • Continue to find and maintain current reputable information sources and quality works as references • Self-assess lifelong learning goals
Topical Outline
Topical outline includes the following: - Neurobiology - Pharmacology - Overview of diagnosis, psychotropic medications, and pharmacotherapeutic treatment strategies for patients with: - Schizophrenia and other Psychotic Syndromes - Depressive Disorders - Bipolar Disorders - Anxiety Disorders - OCD - PTSD - Borderline Personality Disorders - Substance-Related Disorders - Special Populations: Geriatric, Pregnancy, Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology - OTC and Herbal Products - Medication Discontinuation and Red Flags, Medication Nonadherence
Syllabus