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FUNDAMENTALS OF PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY Course Sheet Academic Year of enrolment:
Professor and Collaborators:
Hours of classroom activity:
Prerequisites:
Basic knowledge of neurobiology, neuroanatomy and physiology is required
Objectives
Contents The course is divided into two sections:
1) General Pharmacology. This section briefly describes the principles of Pharmacokinetics (modes of drug absorption and distribution with special reference to the achievement of therapeutic targets present in the Central Nervous System and brief mentions of drug metabolism and excretion) and the principles of Pharmacodynamics (drug-receptor interaction, receptors and signal transduction with special reference to serotonergic, noradrenergic, dopaminergic, cholinergic and glutamatergic neurotransmitter systems); principles of pharmacogenetics will also be described.
2) Special Pharmacology. This section describes the pharmacodynamic, pharmacokinetic, and therapeutic profile of sedative-hypnotic drugs, antipsychotic drugs, antidepressant drugs, and drugs used in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases with special reference to Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. In addition, the pharmacological basis for the treatment of major psychological disorders in special populations (pregnant women and school-age children and adolescents) is described. Finally, the limitations of pharmacological therapy are described and the basic principles of integration of psychopharmacology and psychotherapy in patient care are discussed.
Extended Syllabus Principles of Pharmacokinetics: definition of drug, brief description of drug absorption, metabolization, distribution and excretion processes.
Principles of Pharmacodynamics: drug-receptor interaction, receptors and signal transduction of major neurotransmitter systems, definition of pharmacological agonism and antagonism.
Principles of pharmacogenetics.
Anxiolytic and hypnoinducing drugs with special reference to benzodiazepines (pharmacodynamic, pharmacokinetic profile and therapeutic indications)
Antidepressant drugs (pharmacodynamic, pharmacokinetic profile and therapeutic indications)
Generation I and II antipsychotic drugs (pharmacodynamic, pharmacokinetic profile and therapeutic indications)
Elements of geriatric psychopharmacology: neurobiological basis and pharmacological treatment of Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease.
Psychopharmacology in special populations: pharmacological treatment of psychological disorders in pregnancy; pharmacological treatment of psychological disorders in school-age children and adolescents (medications for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, and anxiety disorders
Integration of psychopharmacology and psychotherapy in patient care
Recommended Bibliography Consultation of specific chapters on classic pharmacology texts such as :
“Farmacologia”, HP Rang, MM Dale, JM Ritter, PK Moore, Casa Ed. Ambrosiana (last edition);
Specific texts such as:
“Farmacologia”, HP Rang, MM Dale, JM Ritter, PK Moore, Casa Ed. Ambrosiana (ultima edizione); “Psicofarmacologia per Psicologi”, C Faravelli, Ed. Il Mulino ((last edition); “Psicofarmacologia per psicologi” MG Manfredonia, Raffella Cortina Editore,
For further information: “Farmacologia: principi di base e applicazioni terapeutiche” F Rossi, V Cuomo, C Riccardi (last edition).
“Droghe e farmaci psicoattivi” Robert JM. Julien, Claire D. Advokat, Joseph, E. Comaty. Zanichelli (ultima edizione)
Any additional materials will be made available by the teacher to supplement the recommended texts and uploaded to the dedicated website.
Teaching Methods The teaching is divided into lectures whose purpose is to transmit concepts, information and schemes.
Evaluation methods Verification of learning:
Methods of learning verification: written and oral
The written test involves multiple-choice questions (each question has 4 answers of which only one is correct) involving the areas of general pharmacology and special pharmacology in the syllabus. The examination mode and its evaluation are explained by the lecturer at the beginning of class. Students who have obtained a sufficient grade on the written test may also take an oral integration test
Contacts/More Information The teacher receives by appointment (to be arranged) at CAST, University Campus,Via Luigi Polacchi No. 11, 66013 Chieti Scalo. Tel 0871-541471. Email: a.bruno@unich.it