PSY 35000 Psychopharmacology
This course is designed to examine the rationale, pharmacology, molecular sites, and putative mechanism of action by which the major drugs are used to treat disorders and diseases of the brain. Emphasis is placed on the principles of electrical and chemical signaling in the central nervous system and will cover the neurotransmitter receptors, ion channels, and associated neurological processes underlying psychopathology and pharmacological intervention. Further we will explore the underlying neuropathological changes in brain structure and neurotransmitter pathways implicated in psychiatric disorders. Specific drug classes to be considered include antidepressants, anxiolytics, antipsychotics, narcotic analgesics, sedative hypnotics, and antiepileptic medications. We will also explore the pharmacology of illicit and licit drugs.
Credits
3