Learning objectives
The course describes the main features of psychotropic drugs and how these drugs affect human behavior
Prerequisites
- - -
Course unit content
The course describes the main features of psychotropic drugs and how these drugs affect human behavior.
Full programme
1 Concept of neurotropic and psychotropic drug.
2 Pharmacological activity of drugs acting at the central nervous system. a) Access of drugs to the brain; b) Mechanisms of action at the neuronal level; c) Variability in the response to psychotropic drugs: desensitization, tolerance, physical and psychological dependence; d) Pharmacogenetics.
3 Main classes of psychotropic drugs: sedative-anxiolytics, antipsychotics, antimanic, antidepressants, psychostimulants (cocaine and congeners), psychodysleptics (psychotomimetic).
4 Neuropsychopharmacology of morphine and opiates.
5 Drug-induced behavioural toxicology
Bibliography
Students can refer to textbooks for postgraduate courses, such as: BG Katzung: Basic & clinical Pharmacology, Twelfth edition, Secion V: Drugs acting on the central nervous system, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc, 2015.
Slides of lessons are available at the end of the course.
Students can refer to textbooks for postgraduate courses, such as: BG Katzung: Basic & clinical Pharmacology, Twelfth edition, Secion V: Drugs acting on the central nervous system, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc, 2012.
Slides of lessons are available at the end of the course.
Teaching methods
Ex-cathedra lectures
Assessment methods and criteria
The exam consists of an oral discussion and critical analysis of topics covered in class by the teacher. The answer is considered sufficient if the student proves to know the main properties of the classes of psychotropic drugs, their actions on the central nervous system and the effects deriving from them, both in physiological and physiopathological conditions.
From the current academic year, if the teachers of the integrated course deem it appropriate, the oral exam will be replaced by a multiple choice quiz exam. The assessment methods will be notified at the beginning of the course. In this case, however, the objectives of the verification will not change.
Other information
Learning objectives (in relation to the Dublin descriptors)
1 Knowledge and understanding. Students will be teached about the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of the main psychotropic drugs, as well as signs and symptoms that develop when drugs are administered to (or taken by) human beings.
2 Applying knowledge and understanding. Students will be able to apply the knowledge gained in the functional context of the central nervous system.
3 Making judgments. Students will gain the concept of drug treatment as a complement (and not as an alternative) to psychotherapy (and vice-versa).
4 Communication. Students will acquire the knowledge and terminology to describe behavioural and cognitive actions of drugs.
5 Lifelong learning skills. Students should be able to use the acquired knowledge to understand and interpret data in the literature relative of drugs acting at the central nervous system and their cognitive and behavioral effects.
