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2021/2022

Psychopharmacology

Code: 102585 ECTS Credits: 6
Degree Type Year Semester
2502443 Psychology OT 4 2
The proposed teaching and assessment methodology that appear in the guide may be subject to changes as a result of the restrictions to face-to-face class attendance imposed by the health authorities.

Contact

Name:
Nuria Ferré Suana
Email:
Nuria.Ferre@uab.cat

Use of Languages

Principal working language:
catalan (cat)
Some groups entirely in English:
No
Some groups entirely in Catalan:
Yes
Some groups entirely in Spanish:
No

Teachers

Marcos Pallarés Anyo

Prerequisites

It is important to have good knowledge about neuronal physiology and physiology of the central nervous system human

 

 

Objectives and Contextualisation

Psychopharmacology is part of Psychobiology.

It is an optional subject of 6 credits that will be taught in the fourth year.

It is part of the optional mentions Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychology and in Adult Clinical Psychology.

The objectives of the subject are the knowledge of the basic neuropharmacology, the evaluation techniques of the preclinical and clinic psychopharmacology, main psychoactive drugs: therapeutic effects and side effects. Main consumed drugs: action mechanisms, addictive and neurotoxic potential, and treatments for addiction.

Competences

  • Analyse scientific texts written in English.
  • Develop strategies for autonomous learning.
  • Distinguish between the design of research, procedures and techniques to evaluate hypotheses, contrast them and interpret the results.
  • Identify and describe the processes and stages in psychological development through the life cycle.
  • Identify, describe and relate the biology of human behaviour and psychological functions.
  • Make systematic reviews of the different documentary sources in psychology to collect, order and classify research data and materials.
  • Use different ICTs for different purposes.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Analyse scientific texts written in English.
  2. Analyse, synthesize and summarise information from scientific and professional texts.
  3. Describe and relate the basic aspects of neuropharmacology.
  4. Describe hormonal changes throughout the life cycle.
  5. Describe how neurobiological changes throughout the life cycle affect the profile of psychotropic drugs.
  6. Develop strategies for autonomous learning.
  7. Handle scientific documentation systems.
  8. Identify and describe the main drugs, their effect on behaviour, neurobiological mechanisms for action and the main psychopharmacological treatments.
  9. Identify and describe the main psychopharmaceuticals used in the treatment of the main psychopathological disorders in the area of behaviour and action mechanisms.
  10. Identify and describe the procedures of preclinical and clinical evaluation of psychiatric drugs.
  11. Plan a literature search or references, both computerized databases and libraries and newspaper archives.
  12. Use different ICTs for different purposes.

Content

I: Basic Neuropharmacology.

II: Nicotine and Methylxanthines.

III: Anxiolytics.

IV: Alcohol.

V: Antidepressants and antimanics.

VI: Psychostimulants: amphetamines, cocaine.

VII: Drugs that alter hunger.

VIII: Opiates.

IX: Antipsychotic drugs.

X: Cannabinoids, psychotomimetic and recreational drugs.

XI: Cognitive enhancers.

XII: Aphrodisiacs.

 

 

Methodology

Lectures with ICT support and debate in a large group.

Search for documentation on a topic, oral and / or written presentation and evaluation period.

Practical sessions. Basically through the use of computer simulations and case studies.

Introduction of sessions in seminars, presentation of the text, assessment and discussion.

Tutorials to support the execution of a project.

Comprehensive reading of texts.

Individual or group work on the set of available material of classes, texts, magazines, etc.

Drawing up diagrams, conceptual maps and summaries.

Recensions, bibliographic studies (individual or in group) from a guide for its realization.

N.B. The proposed teaching and assessment methodologies may experience some modifications as a result of the restrictions on face-to-face learning imposed by the health authorities. The teaching staff will use the Moodle classroom or the usual communication channel to specify whether the different directed and assessment activities are to be carried out on site or online, as instructed by the Faculty. 

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Activities

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Practices 6 0.24 3, 10
Seminars 6 0.24 5, 4, 3
Theoretical classes 24 0.96 5, 9, 8
Type: Supervised      
Preparation of the subject 6 0.24 1, 2, 5, 4, 3
Preparation of work 6 0.24 1, 9, 10, 8
Type: Autonomous      
Search for documentation 9 0.36 1, 7, 11, 12
Study and reading texts 75 3 1, 2, 6
Writing work 15 0.6 2, 3

Assessment

There will be 2 face-to-face written exams, to present themselves to them, they must have attended, at least, 2/3 of the theoretical classes and respective practices. The examinations will have a duration of 1.5 hours each, with a weight of 80% of the final grade. The first exam will take place in the middle of the semester, and the second, in the end, will be carried out during the respective assessment weeks provided for in the calendar of the Faculty of Psychology.

A written work will be done, with a written report, or oral presentation in Power Point conference format, which will be evaluated with a weight of 20% of the final grade. The work can be individual or small group (maximum 5 people). This presentation will be done in the last weeks of the semester.

Subject passed:

The subject will be considered to have passed if the student has obtained, in the set of learning evidences, a total of 5 points or more.

Resit:

After having completed the two partial examinations, the total points obtained in the assessment process does not reach 5 but it is equal to or greater than 3.5. There will be a written exam, in person of two hours. This exam will include the subject of the two partial examinations and the grade awarded will represent 80 percent of the final grade. Those students that had passed one of the two partial examinations, obtaining 2 or more putns, will have to answer the part corresponding to the other partial, the note obtained in this cs, will represent 40 percent of the final mark

Presented student:

It is considered presented as a student who has done one or two partial examinations, the non-presentation of the work does not imply being considered not presented, but that the student resigns 20% of the grade

No unique final synthesis test for students who enroll for the second time or more is anticipated.

Evaluation Guidelines Faculty Psychology: https://www.uab.cat/web/estudiar/graus/graus/avaluacions-1345722525858.html

Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Exam 1 4 1.5 0.06 2, 3, 7, 9, 10, 8
Exam 2 4 1.5 0.06 2, 5, 4, 7, 9, 8
Presentation of a work 2 0 0 1, 2, 6, 7, 11, 12

Bibliography

BEHERE, P B, DAS, A, BEHERE, A P, Clinical Psychopharmacology, Springer, 2019

COOPER, J.R., BLOOM, F.L. & ROTH, R.H. The biochemical basis of neuropharmacology. Oxford University Press 2003

DAVIS KL, CHARNEY D, COYLE JT, NEMEROFF CB. Neuropsychopharmacology: The Fifth Generation of Progress. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2002

FLEISCHHACKER WW, BROOKS DJ, BROOKS DJ (Editor). Neuropsychopharmacology Springer-Verlag New York, Incorporated, 2003

GHAEMi SN. Polypharmacy in Psychiatry. Marcel Dekker Series: Medical Psychiatry Series, 2002

IVERSEN, L.L Marihuana Ariel, Barcelona, 2001

IVERSEN, L., IVERSEN, S., BLOOM, F., & ROTH, R. H.Introduction to neuropsychopharmacology. Oxford: Oxford University Press,2008

LORENZO P, LADERO JM. LEZA JC, LLIZASOAIN, I (Edd) Dogodependencias: Farmacología Patología Psicología Legislación. Madrid, Panamericana, 2014

STANLEY P. KUTCHER (Ed) Practical Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology Cambridge University Press, 2001

McKIM WA. Drugs and Behavior: An Introduction to Behavioral Pharmacology. Pearson Education, 2002

NEMEROFF, CB (Ed) Essentials of clinical psychopharmacology American Psychiatric Press, Inc, 2001  

STAHL, S.M. Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology, 2013

 

Software

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