Psychopharmacology

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Objectives, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.
It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and the Disability Liaison Unit: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This selective will provide a brief revision of basic pharmacological principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics including the relevance of age, gender, ethnicity, common drug interactions, environmental influences, route of administration. The primary focus of the different seminars will be the major drug types commonly used in psychiatric practice including the underlying neurochemical basis for their use in specific disorders and specified primary target syndromes and symptoms.

• To describe the basic pharmacological principles and their relevance to clinical prescribing
• To underline the theoretical underpinnings of the common psychiatric disorders such as depression and psychoses, and discuss the underlying basis for the use of specific psychotropic medications
• To critically analyse the literature on drug trials
• To apply a rational and practical approach to prescribing psychotropics including the management of side effects, the drug-resistant patient, use in specific patient groups such as the medically unwell, pregnant and lactating patients and the elderly patient
• To discuss the presentation and management of drug induced movement disorders

• The unit is assessed through the students' written 1500 word essay (70%) that answers a clinical question and that requires integration of the course elements
• Students will also be rostered to bring in illustrative case examples or clinical problems to discuss in the case illustration small group discussions and be able to draw up an appropriate drug management plan (30%)

Leonard B, Fundamentals of Psychopharmacology, 2nd edition, Wiley &Sons, Europe 1997

Stahl S M, Essential Psychopharmacology: neuroscientific Basis and Practical Applications, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2000.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.