Psychopharmacology (PSY I545)  

B. Neal-Beliveau (course director)

Course description and rationale:  A survey of the effects of drugs on behavior, cognitive functioning and emotions. Emphasis will be placed on the practical advantages of understanding how psychotropic drugs work, and on how the brain functions in health and disease. The major classes of psychotropic drugs will be covered, with discussions of their indications, side effect profiles and mechanisms of action. The course will review data on the biological underpinnings and the latest therapeutic approaches associated with the major psychiatric disorders. Students will be exposed to the most current theories and research in the field through readings of journal articles, as well as the required and supplemental texts.

 Educational objectives:  Students will be expected to learn:  (1) the clinical features associated with the major psychiatric disorders; (2) the latest theories with regard to the underlying psycho-biology of the disorders; (3) state-of-the-art treatment strategies; and (4) most importantly, how the various classes of psychotropic drugs work within the brain to produce both their desirable and undesirable effects.   

 Course content:

Lecture             Topic      

1               Introduction to Psychopharmacology

          BASIC PRINCIPLES

2               Neurotransmission

3               Receptors and drug action

4               Signal transduction         

5               Pharmacokinetics  

          DEPRESSION AND MANIA 

6               Clinical features and brain mechanisms          

7               Drug treatment 

8               Current topic      

          ANXIETY       

9               Clinical features and brain mechanisms          

10               Drug treatment

11               Current topic      

12               Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders            

13               INSOMNIA    

          SCHIZOPHRENIA       

14               Clinical features and brain mechanisms

15               Drug treatment

16               Current topic      

17               Midterm exam (short-answer/essay - 100 points)  

18               EPILEPSIES     

19               PARKINSON'S DISEASE        

          ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE        

20               Clinical features and brain mechanisms

21               Treatment strategies 

22               Current topic      

               DRUG ABUSE 

23               The neurobiology of drug abuse     

24               Clinical considerations      

25               Alcohol   

26               Psychomotor stimulants                           

27               Opioids                 

28               Hallucinogens       

29               DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS     

30               Course review and discussion

                     Final exam (short-answer/essay - 100 points)

Note:  Current topic lectures will change depending upon the latest developments in the area.  

Evaluation and grading:  There will be two essay exams, each worth 100 points, and students will have the entire lecture period to answer the questions. Make-up exams will not be given unless arrangements are made prior to the scheduled date. Students are also required to write a 15-20 page research paper worth 100 points. Appointments must be made to have topics and critical journal articles approved by the instructor. Research papers should be based on at least 4-5 journal articles published in the past 3 years involving a particular topic of interest. Papers are due one month before the end of the semester, and points will be taken off if they are turned in late. For final grades, point totals will be converted to a % of total points available, and the following letter grades will be assigned:  A = 90-100%; B = 80-89%; C = 70-79%; D = 60-69%; and F = ≤59%. Plus and minus grades will be given for borderline grades.  

01/15/2001

JRS