PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY

During the course of their professional activity, psychologists are required to interact with psychiatrists in the management of neuropsychiatric disorders. Knowledge of the different classes of psychotropic medications therefore represents an essential step toward a better understanding of pharmacological treatment and a more correct management of patients suffering from neuropsychiatric pathologies.

Knowledge and understanding. The course aims to provide students with fundamental knowledge regarding: a) Neurobiological bases of neuropsychiatric pathologies b) Mechanisms of action and side effects of the different classes of psychotropic medications used in the treatment of neuropsychiatric pathologies. c) Interaction between pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy d) Role of neuropsychological assessment in planning pharmacological treatment

Overall, the course aims to provide a basic understanding of psychopharmacology. Specific lectures featuring simulations of real clinical cases are included within the course. Their specific objective is to help students acquire essential knowledge on the interaction between psychotropic medications and psychotherapy in practice, as well as to learn the role of neuropsychological assessment in planning the pharmacological treatment of various neuropsychiatric disorders, with particular attention to the evaluation of affective and cognitive symptoms.

Applied knowledge and understanding. Knowing the main topics of clinical psychopharmacology by understanding the current theoretical, experimental, empirical, and applied developments of the discipline.

Making judgments: Ability to argue personal interpretations of issues related to the study.

Communication skills. Ability to use the basic vocabulary of the discipline. Ability to communicate with specialists in neurology and psychiatry using appropriate psychopharmacological terminology and, at the same time, the ability to communicate basic psychopharmacology concepts simply and correctly to non-specialists.

Learning skills. Having acquired a body of knowledge useful for the further study of the disciplines that make up the degree program. The ability to independently deepen and update one's knowledge, also thanks to the use of specialized literature and appropriate bibliographic resources.

The course will consist of lectures

• Basic knowledge of biology and chemistry
• Good knowledge of the Anatomy of the Central and Peripheral Nervous System
• Good knowledge of Physiology with particular attention to neurophysiology and neurobiology of the main neurotransmitter systems
• Good knowledge of Psychobiology
  
• Good knowledge of Clinical Psychology
  

Attendance is not mandatory, but it is strongly recommended.

The first part of the course will be dedicated to the general principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

During the second part of the course we will examine the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profile as well as the therapeutic indications of antidepressants, mood stabilizers, anxiolytics and hypnotics and antipsychotic drugs.

Specific topics will be then analyzed such as the neurobiological basis and pharmacological treatment of addiction, the possible role of psychotropic drugs for the treatment of psychiatric disorders in childhood and adolescence, eating disorders and personality disorders. A specific session will be dedicated to geriatric psychopharmacology focusing on the neurobiological basis and pharmacological treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and post-stroke depression.

Integration between psycopharmacology e psychotherapy: role of epigenetics.

Julien RM, Advokat CD, Comaty JE. Droghe e farmaci psicoattivi: XII edizione 2012, Zanichelli: pp. 1-248; pp. 5

Di Nuovo-Vianello, Deterioramento cognitivo: forme, diagnosi e intervento.MILANO:FrancoAngeli, 2013

Learning assessment takes place exclusively through a final exam, which verifies the acquisition of the expected knowledge and skills through an oral examination, with the possibility of student-chosen in-depth topics.

The evaluation criteria are listed below: a) relevance of the answers to the questions formulated; b) quality of the content; c) ability to connect with other topics covered in the syllabus; d) ability to provide examples; e) command of technical terminology; f) overall expressive capacity of the student.

CInAP support will be required in presence of specific teaching activities related to specific needs

Agonist and antagonist
Metabotropic receptors
The ionotropic receptors
Absorption of drugs
Distribution of medicines
Phase I metabolism of drugs
Phase II metabolism of drugs
Elimination of drugs
Signal transduction
partial agonist
Pharmacology of the cholinergic system
Pharmacology of the serotonergic system
Pharmacology of the gabaergic system
Pharmacology of the glutamatergic system
Pharmacology of the noradrenergic and dopaminergic system
SSRIs
SNRI extension
Tricyclic antidepressants
Neurobiological basis and pharmacological treatment of major depression
Bupropion
Interaction between psychometrics and psychopharmacology
Drug formulations
First generation antipsychotics
Second generation antipsychotics
Neurobiological basis of schizophrenia
Neurobiological basis of addiction
Cocaine
Opiates
Cannabis
Alcohol
Methylphenidate
Atomoxetine
Memantine
Cholinesterase inhibitors
Amyloid hypothesis and new drugs
Epigenetics and psychotherapy
Neurotrophic hypothesis of depression
Psychometrics and psychopharmacology of depression
Psychometrics and psychopharmacology of schizophrenia
Psychometrics and psychopharmacology of ADHD
Psychometrics and psychopharmacology of MCI and Alzheimer's disease
Lithium
Lamotrigine
Topiramate
carbamazepine
Pregabalin
Benzodiazepines