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Description
This module presents what is known about the actions of drugs that affect mood and behaviour, both from studies in humans and from animal models used to evaluate psychoactive drug actions. Disorders of mood and behaviour to be covered include addiction, depression & anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and schizophrenia. There will also be consideration of recreational drugs and of drugs used as cognitive enhancers and in the treatment of disorders of affiliative behaviour, feeding behaviour and sexual/reproductive behaviour.听
In addition to lectures, you will attend compulsory formative tutorials at which groups of students will present papers chosen from the reading list for discussion by the class听
After successfully completing the module, students should be able to:听
1. understand the cognitive and neural bases of mood and behavioural disorders,听
2. describe the pharmacological mechanisms thought to be involved in their treatment with drugs and hormones,听
3. evaluate and compile the research evidence which underlies both the current use and the future development of psychoactive drugs.听
4. Communicate complex scientific ideas, accurately and informatively听
Psychopharmacology will build on knowledge acquired in the second year PHAR0004/0009/0007 modules and in the third year PHAR0010/0020 modules, or years 1 and 2 of the MBBS. If you wish to join without having taken any of these module or degree courses, then please contact the Module Organiser.听听
Indicative lecture list (based on 2023/24 syllabus)听
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Animal 'models' of psychiatric disorders听
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Depression and antidepressants听
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Post-traumatic stress disorder听
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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder听
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Affiliative behaviours听
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Addiction 鈥� animal models and drug targets听
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Addiction in humans and its treatment听
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Depression and anxiety听
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Neurochemical hypotheses and treatment strategies for schizophrenia听
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Drugs and feeding behaviour听
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Pharmacogenetics (psychotropics) and geriatric psychopharmacology听
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Cannabis: mental health and medicinal uses听
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Nootropic agents/cognitive enhancers听
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狈别耻谤辞别迟丑颈肠蝉听
Module deliveries for 2024/25 academic year
Last updated
This module description was last updated on 8th April 2024.
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