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SIMPLY PSYCH/Psychopharmacology Review Course
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Psychopharmacology Review Course

A review of psychotropic medications used to treat mental disorders. Topics covered include clinical pharmacology, basic neuroscience, psychopharmacology, and neurobiology of mental disorders.
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COURSE OUTLINE

Introduction to Pharmacology and Psychopharmacology

Psychopharmacology is the study of drugs that act primarily on the central nervous system to alter behavior. Psychotropic drugs are used to treat mental disorders and will be the primary focus of this course. This section is a basic introduction to the study of drugs and medications.

What is Pharmacology?
Preview
General Mechanisms in Psychopharmacology
Preview
Overview of Psychopharmacological Treatments
Overview of Drug Development
Clinical Trials (Phases I-IV)
Drug Patents, Generic Drugs, Orphan Drugs, and Expedited Reviews

The Basics of Studying Drugs and Medications

In this section we will review the basics of how we study medications and drugs. We will review pharmacokinetics, which refers to the movement of drugs throughout the body as well as pharmacodynamics, which refers to how drugs act on the body to cause responses.

What is Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics?
Pharmacokinetics: Routes of Administration
Pharmacokinetics: A-D-M-E
Pharmacokinetics: Absorption
Pharmacokinetics: Distribution
Pharmacokinetics: Concentration-Time Curves
Pharmacokinetics: Steady State
Pharmacokinetics: Metabolism
Pharmacokinetics: Elimination Half-Life
Pharmacokinetics: Drug Clearance and Elimination Kinetics
Pharmacodynamics: Dose-Response Curves
Pharmacodynamics: Agonists, Partial Agonists, Antagonists, and Inverse Agonists

Genetics

What is Genetics?
The Central Dogma of Biology
What is Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)?
Altering DNA, Mutations, and Epigenetics
What is Ribonucleic acid (RNA)?
Terms, Definitions, Laboratory Techniques, and Types of Genetic Studies

Medications for Anxiety Disorders

In this section we will review anxiety disorders and medications used to treat them.

Rapid Review of Anxiety Disorders
Anxiolytics

Medications for Psychotic Disorders

In this section we will review psychotic disorders and medications used to treat them.

Psychosis
Rapid Review of Psychotic Disorders
Antipsychotics

Medications for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

In this section we will review attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and medications used to treat them.

Psychostimulants
Nonstimulants, Modafinil, and Armodafinil

Medications for Mood Disorders

In this section we will review mood disorders and medications used to treat them.

Mood, Affect, and Mood Disorders
Preview
Rapid Review of Depressive Disorders
Historical Background of Antidepressants
Preview
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
Preview
Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)
Norepinephrine Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitors (NDRIs)
Serotonin Receptor Partial Agonists (SPARIs) & Serotonin Receptor Antagonists (SARIs)
Norepinephrine Receptor Antagonists and Agonists
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)
Ketamine
Rapid Review of Bipolar Disorders
Mood Stabilizers
Lithium
Valproic Acid (Depakote)
Lamotrigine (Lamictal)
Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal)
Topiramate (Topamax)

Basic Neuroscience Principles

In this section of the course, we will review basic principles in neuroscience. Without a basic understanding of neuroscience, it will be difficult to understand the biological mechanisms underlying mental disorders and their treatments. 
Divisions of the Human Nervous System
Preview
Neurons and Glial Cells
Autonomic Nervous System
Neurotransmitters
Receptors
Signal Transduction
Neurotransmitter Systems
Membrane Potentials and Action Potentials
The Synapse

Medications for Cognitive Disorders (e.g. Dementia)

In this section we will review the cognitive disorders and medications used to manage them.

Neurobiology of Memory
Dementia and Cognitive Enhancers
L-Dopa and Parkinson Disease

Medications for Pain

In this section we review the neurobiology of pain and medications used to manage pain.

Neurobiology of Pain
Opioids and the Treatment of Pain

Addiction and Drug Abuse

In this section, we will review important terms, definitions, and statistics associated with addiction and drug abuse. 
What is Addiction?
Preview
Sobering Statistics (Pun Intended)
Terms and Definitions
Reasons people use and misuse drugs
Dopamine, Mesolimbic Pathway, and the Neurobiology of Addiction
From Pleasure to Compulsion
Alcohol (Ethanol)
Nicotine
Marijuana (Cannabis)
Psychostimulants
Opioids (Heroin)
Methanol and Ethylene Glycol

Prescribing Psychiatric Medications in Medically Complex Patients


Keep your patients safe with our informative handouts about prescribing psychotropic medications for medically complex patients!
Psychopharmacology in Medical Illnesses (PDF)
QTc Prolongation and Psychotropic Medications
General Psychopharmacology Facts Every Prescriber Should Know

References


References for the course for additional reading. 
References for this course

Psychopharmacology Review Questions

Test your knowledge with our 550+ review questions! Topics include psychiatry, neurology, basic neuroscience, psychology, pharmacology, and psychopharmacology. A great study aid for board exams and certification exams!

REVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (PDF)