Psychopharmacology
Dr. Subhash Gupta
Psychopharmacology overview
The objectives of the module
1. To understand the mechanisms of action of commonly used drug
classes in psychiatry
2. To understand therapeutic indications of these drug classes and their
effectiveness
3. To understand factors influencing drug tolerability and adverse
effects
Psychopharmacology module overview
Introduction to the module and Psychopharmacology
of Antipsychotic drugs
Psychopharmacology of Antidepressant drugs
Psychopharmacology in old age (including Memory
Enhancers, modulators and psychopharmacology of
antidepressants and antipsychotics in older adults)
Psychopharmacology of reward and drugs of abuse
& Psychopharmacology of drugs used in emergency
Psychiatry
Psychopharmacology of drugs used in anxiety
disorders
Psychopharmacology module
overview
General Principles, pharmacodynamics,
pharmacokinetics, drug interactions (including special
cases such as hepatic and renal impairment as well as
pregnancy and breast feeding and the psychiatric effects
of medications prescribed to treat physical illnesses)
Psychopharmacology of Mood stabilisers &
psychopharmacology of drugs used in ADHD
CASC Practice related to the module
Psychopharmacology overview
In Year Two, there will be further teaching on advanced therapeutic
Issues and on research methods used in
assessing drug effectiveness, which will be integrated into other
modules.
Psychopharmacology introduction
Useful online resources are:American Psychiatric Association
Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry
British Association of Psychopharmacology
Royal College of Psychiatrists (Special Interest Group in
Psychopharmacology website)
BNF online
Drugs and Therapeutics Bulletin
Psychopharmacology introduction
Some useful reference sources are:RCPsych Seminars series (Gaskell)
Stahl (Antipsychotic drugs) American Psychiatric Association
BAP monographs and series (Oxford University Press)
The Psychopharmacologists (Healy)
Journal of Psychopharmacology
Clinical Psychopharmacology
Biological Psychiatry
Journal of Affective Disorders
Schizophrenia Bulletin
Current Opinion