Pittsburg State University
Department of Psychology and Counseling
Psychology 823.01 Psychopharmacology
Spring 2010
Instructor:
Office:
Phone:
E-mail:
Sean A. Lauderdale, Ph.D.
207A Whitesitt Hall
620 235 4526
slauderd@pittstate.edu
Day
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
By appointment as needed
Time: 12:30-3:20pm
Days: Tuesdays
Room: 201 Whitesitt Hall
Time
10:00am-12:00pm
10:00am-12:00pm
10:00am-12:00pm
Time
1:00pm-3:00pm
1:00pm-3:00pm
Text: Kelsey, J.E., Newport, D.J., & Nemeroff, C.B. (2006). Principles of psychopharmacology
for mental health professionals. Wiley: Hoboken, NJ.
Course Description: As listed in the catalogue, this course is intended to provide “three basic
segments… an overall description of methods of learning, an in-depth analysis of the
pharmacological and psychopharmacological events that occur after drug intake; and a specific
description of some combination of the fields of learning and psychopharmacology” (Pittsburg
State University, 2005, p. 239).
This course is intended to provide students an opportunity to use empirically-based data to
evaluate pharmacological interventions available for psychological disorders. To accomplish this
objective, students will have the opportunity to learn basic pharmacological principles, actions of
pharmacological agents in the brain, side-effect profiles of common pharmacological agents,
brief overview of the neuropsychiatric etiology of select psychiatric disorders, and empirically
supported pharmacological treatment guidelines for psychiatric disorders. This information is
designed to help advanced students be knowledgeable consumers regarding available
psychopharmacological agents currently on the market. The information in this course is NOT
designed to prepare students to make competent decisions regarding prescription of
psychopharmacological agents.
In-class Discussions\Presentations: In class presentations and discussions will be used to
highlight and elaborate information presented in the text. Although some information presented
in class will cover information in the text, not all presentation information will be in the text.
During the semester, in-class exercises and other presentation media (e.g., pictures, videos) will
be used to augment in-class discussions and presentations.
Course Evaluation: Students’ course performance will be evaluated using two strategies. During
the course of the semester, students will select one agent from each class of medications and
write a review summarizing the agents’:
1. FDA approved use and indication
2. Method of action
3. Black box warnings
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Pittsburg State University
Department of Psychology and Counseling
Psychology 823.01 Psychopharmacology
Spring 2010
Commonly experienced side-effects
Warning and precautions (minimum two)
Precautions or warnings for special populations (select at least two special populations,
such as older adults, children, pregnant\breast-feeding women, individuals who smoke
cigarettes or have kidney or liver damage or failure)
Common dosing range for a specific disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety, schizophrenia,
ADHD)
Empirical evidence regarding efficacy for FDA approved use (randomized clinical trial
with a comparison to placebo and randomized clinical trial involving head-to-head
comparisons to another agent(s)). Thus, two articles (at minimum) will be required.
Empirical evidence regarding “off-label” use (one article).
For each evaluation, the following grading criteria will be used:
Category
FDA approved use\Indications
Method of action
Black box warnings
Common side-effects
Warning & Precautions
Special populations
Dosage Range
Empirical evidence regarding
efficacy for FDA approved
use
Empirical evidence regarding
“off-label” use
Quality of writing and use of
APA format
Points
2
1
2
1
1
2
2
5
3
4
For each review students are expected to use in-text citations and a reference section formatted
according to APA style guidelines. Internet resources (e.g., WebMD) are strictly prohibited as
citations must come from scholarly sources. Note, peer-reviewed electronic journals on the
internet would be allowed as these usually represent scholarly resources. Also, downloading
prescribing information from drug-specific websites supported by the drug manufacturer is
permitted. Prior to using an electronic resource, please see Dr. Lauderdale for approval. Students
will complete 4 reviews. Each review will be worth 23 points, totaling 92 points for the semester.
All reviews will be due by 12:30 pm on the due date. NO LATE REVIEWS WILL BE
ACCEPTED! Reviews of each agent will also be discussed in class.
Students will also complete a closed-book, comprehensive final examination on the day of the
scheduled final. This examination will include short-essays and case vignettes. The final
examination will be worth 8 points.
For course evaluation, the following grading scale will be used:
Pittsburg State University
Department of Psychology and Counseling
Psychology 823.01 Psychopharmacology
Spring 2010
A:
100-90 points
B:
89-80 points
C:
79-70 points
D:
69-60 points
F:
< 59 points
Course Readings\Discussions: To fully and actively participate in class discussions and
presentations, students must be thoroughly familiar with the readings assigned. The following
schedule is provided as a guideline for readings rather than as a set schedule.
Pittsburg State University
Department of Psychology and Counseling
Psychology 823.01 Psychopharmacology
Spring 2010
Week
Readings
Presenter
January 18
Introduction, Syllabus, Psychotherapist working with prescribing
professionals, and DTCA
January 25
Reading prescribing information, Chp. 1(Introduction) and Chp. 2
Basics of Pharmacology
February 1
Chp. 2 Basics of Pharmacology
February 8
Chp. 3 Mood Disorders; Review 1
February 15
Chp. 3 Mood Disorders
February 22
Chp. 5 Anxiety Disorders
March 1
Chp. 5 Anxiety Disorders; Review 2
March 8
Chp. 5 Anxiety Disorders
March 15
Spring Break
March 22
Chp. 4 Schizophrenia; Review 3
March 29
Chp. 4 Schizophrenia
April 5
Chp. 8 ADHD
April 12
Chp. 9 Sleep Disorders; Review 4
April 19
Chp. 10 Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias
April 26
Chp. 11 Personality Disorders
May 3
Dead Week; Personality Disorders and others
May 10
Tuesday, May 11, 2010 From 12:30pm-3:20pm
Angel and software: The syllabus and any pertinent announcements or supplemental course
materials will be posted on Angel over the course of the semester. Power Point presentations of
presentation materials will also be available on Angel. To view materials posted on Angel (e.g.,
Power Point slides, Microsoft Word documents), students must have the same software on their
computer. If unavailable, a viewer for Power Point and Microsoft Word can be downloaded from
http://www.microsoft.com/office/000/viewers.asp . Students should also ensure that their
preferred e-mail address is listed on Angel to receive any e-mails or announcements. Students
should also ensure that their preferred e-mail address is listed on Angel to receive any e-mails or
announcements.
Due to the multitude of available word processing program available, students must submit all
electronic documents as either an RTF or PDF.
Pittsburg State University
Department of Psychology and Counseling
Psychology 823.01 Psychopharmacology
Spring 2010
Conduct: Both the instructor and students are expected to maintain a respectful attitude toward
others at all times. Both the instructor and students are expected to be on time to class as well as
not allow the use of cellular phones to interrupt in-class discussions and presentations. Students
are expected to be aware and follow without deviation PSU guidelines regarding conduct,
academic dishonesty, plagiarism, and class withdrawal. STUDENTS CAUGHT ENGAGING IN
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY WILL RECEIVE A FAILING GRADE FOR THE COURSE. For
further information, the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities can be found in the PSU
catalog or at www.pittstate.edu/pubs/stucode.html .
Student Assistance: Students needing assistance due to physical, emotional, or mental and\or
multiple disabilities should contact Jamie Brooksher, Director of Equal Opportunity at 218 Russ
Hall (620 235 4185). Students with learning disabilities should contact Kelly Heiskell,
Coordinator of Learning Disabilities\Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, 225C Whitesitt
Hall (620 235 4309). No accommodations can be made until the instructor has received written
notification from Ms. Brooksher or Ms. Heiskell.