PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY

Aim of this course is to provide a specific knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying both clinical efficacy and side effects of the psychotropic drugs used for the treatment of psychiatric disorders.The course is designed to enhance the knowledge base of future psychologists in psychopharmacology working in medical settings, private practice, or other settings where the interaction with the psychiatrists is critical to improve patient care and manage patients with neuropsychiatric disorders. According to this aim specific lectures with mimicked clinical cases will be planned during the course  to evaluate the role of psychometric tests in the evaluation of the clinical efficacy of psychotropic drugs and in particular in the pharmacological treatment of depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and mild cognitive impairment.

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
  

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.

1. Julien RM, Advokat CD, Comaty JE. A Primer of Drug Action. 2012, XII edition, pp. 1-248; pp. 519-631.
2. Stahl S. Essential Psychopharmacology. Fourth Edition, Cambridge University Press.

Oral exam

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