PSICLI004G - FUNDAMENTALS OF PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY

LEARNING OBJECTIVESThe teaching fits within the specific objectives of the course of study, which aims to provide the student with advanced knowledge also in the biomedical field. Among these, which include basic knowledge in biology and genetics, it intends to foster the development of that related to the principles of neuropsychopharmacology. Thus, briefly, the Psychopharmacology course aims to provide the student with training in the principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics that account for the effects of drugs active at the level of the Central Nervous System. Since the psychologist, in the course of his professional activity, collaborates with other health professionals (e.g., psychiatrists, neurologists, etc.) within a multidisciplinary team for the management of numerous neuropsychiatric pathologies, the course proposes to enable the Student to develop knowledge of the pharmacological basis of therapy through an integration of notions related to pharmacokinetics, molecular mechanism of action and the interaction of individual drug classes with the pathophysiological and molecular mechanisms of the main psychopathologies for the treatment of which the aforementioned drugs are proposed. Moreover, the course aims to convey to the Student fundamentals of pharmacogenetics that underlie the development and application of personalized medicine. Finally, the course aims to provide the student with knowledge regarding the pharmacological treatment of major psychological disorders in special populations (pregnant women and school-age children and adolescents).EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMESAt the end of the course, the student, to the extent of his/her competence, will be able to: i) know the pharmacological basis of the therapy of major psychopathologies and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease; ii) know the main behavioral and/or undesirable effects of psychotropic drugs; iii) understand the potential interactions between psychotropic drugs and between psychotropic drugs and psychotherapies (e.g. cognitive-behavioral therapy); iv) understand the biological reasons underlying the variability in response to medications and the critical importance of adherence to therapy; v) know the pharmacological basis of the treatment of major psychopathologies in special populations (pregnant women and school-age children and adolescents). The course will help provide the student with tools that will enable him or her to improve his or her ability to relate to other professionals (physicians, nurses) who, in an increasingly multidisciplinary approach, will be called upon to care for the client/patient