Psychopharmacology

Course goals

After completing this course, the student has:

• obtained knowledge on the most important classes of psychoactive drugs and their clinical applications
• gained insight in general pharmacological principles, and the student can apply these insights to the area of psychopharmacology
• learned to look up and interpret properties of psychoactive medications
• gained sufficient knowledge to independently use sources of information used in the clinical practice on psychoactive medications
• learned to formulate a relevant question based on the studied reading and conduct a literature review to answer this question

Relation between assessment and objective
The written exam consists of multiple choice questions through which knowledge is tested on pharmacological principles and working mechanisms of psychoactive drugs and their clinical applications. The assignments in the working groups are 1) looking up details on a particular drug using professional sources, and presenting these and answers to (study) questions in the work group (graded with pass or fail) and 2) a larger literature review assignment completed in groups of 4 students that is graded on a 0-10 scale. The literature review assignment consists of formulating a question, conducting a literature review to answer this question, and presenting the results in a poster presentation and a written paper.

Content

In neuroscience and psychology the biological approach to behavior and psychiatric disorders is of substantial importance. On a weekly basis, results of research on psychoactive drugs and psychopathology are reported in the news and on (social) media. Developments in neuroscience and fields like genetics hold the promise that progress in the discovery of new medications will become faster and more innovative. Innovation in psychiatric treatments is urgently needed, as not all patients achieve remission with current treatments. This course covers the state of the art as well as new developments in psychoactive drugs for the treatment of disorders like depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia. 

In addition, the recreative use of drugs is discussed. Designer drugs are developed at fast rates, but are subject to general principles of what makes substances rewarding, and how tolerance and dependence (addiction).

The course covers the most important classes of psychoactive substances used in clinical practice (sedative-hypnotics, anxiolytics, stimulants, anti-depressants and antipsychotics) as well as the most important classes of substances used recreationally (stimulants, psychedelics). Of all substances that are discussed attention is paid to the pharmacological properties, their working mechanisms, and if applicable their clinical application.

The course is of interest to anyone who wants to be able to keep track of this dynamic field, who is interested in brain and behavior or who will be working in mental health care and with interdisciplinary treatment of psychological, psychiatric or somatic problems.

The course will use literature that covers both the scientific backgrounds and the clinical applications. The assignment that students work on during the course is a literature review on a topic in the field of psychopharmacology, which allows students to gain in-depth knowledge on a topic of their choice. 

Note: The entire course will be taught in English, including lectures and exams. Work group assignments may be completed in Dutch upon agreement with instructor and students in the collaboration group.