Psychopharmacology

7PS556

Dr. Maria Zannikou

PhDc Eirini Vilou

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 Psychopharmacology 7PS556
Contents
Module Leader ........................................................................................................................................ 3
Description of the module ...................................................................................................................... 3
Module Specification .............................................................................................................................. 4
Schedule of work .................................................................................................................................... 4
Module Assessment Description ............................................................................................................ 5
Assessment Schedule .............................................................................................................................. 6
Assessment Criteria & Assessment Rubrics ............................................................................................ 6

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 Module Leader
Eirini Vilou, PhDc (Thessaloniki)
Email: e.vilou@mc-class.gr
Phone: 2310 287779

Dr Maria Zannikou (Athens)

e-mail: m.zannikou@mc-class.gr

Description of the module

Applied Clinical Psychology takes place in the spring semester at the Med College Campus. The
language of delivery is English.

The module investigates the effects of clinical medications on human psychobiology and discusses /
debates how they can facilitate and aid therapeutic approaches. The module will also investigate the
social-recreational drugs, including legal drugs such as alcohol and nicotine, and illegal drugs such as
cannabis and cocaine. The module will also review their effects on mood and behaviour and debate
how their use can heighten distress. Many drugs are addictive; thus, the module will also cover topics
such as chronic tolerance and drug dependency.

Psychopharmacology is of vital importance and practical interest to clinical psychologists, as it

investigates the effects of clinical medications, legal and illegal drugs on human psychobiology. More
specifically, the module covers and the basic principles of clinical psychopharmacology and introduces
the effect of psychoactive drugs (along with the different modes of administration) on the brain and
behaviour, focusing on the core principles of drug action. Additionally, the module will cover the
effects of antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs, CNS stimulants (e.g., amphetamine and cocaine),
sedative drugs (e.g., alcohol and cannabis), nicotine dependency, opiate use and addiction. Finally, the
module will cover issues such as mood control, the self-medication model, dosage escalation and
tolerance.

During the module a mixture of interactive lectures and informal small group debate and discussion,
as well as workshops and seminars, will take place to give students the opportunity to develop their
understanding of the assessment requirements and acquire an ability to critically understand the
issues that module covers.

The module has four learning outcomes.

1. Demonstrate their knowledge around the effects of drugs and medication on human
psychobiology

2. Demonstrate their critical appreciation of the core principles of psychopharmacology

3. Demonstrate their critical understanding of relevant research findings

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 4. Understand the basic principles of pharmacology and pharmacokinetics including absorption,
distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs.

Module Specification
A module specification is a formal document that describes a module and how it will be taught and
assessed. The module specification for Psychopharmacology is available in the Module Information
tab.

Schedule of work
This module will be delivered on-campus. Each week there will be a 3-hour session divided into a 1-
hour lecture and 2-hours of seminar and / or workshops activities.

The module provides an in-depth analysis around the effects of drugs and medication on human
psychobiology, acknowledging empirical findings and drug effectiveness. During the module, students
will take part in interactive tasks and in-class groupwork, to demonstrate their critical appreciation of
the core principles of psychopharmacology and pharmacokinetics. The goal of such in-class tasks
serves also as a guidance for their essay that they must write at the end of the module. The
participation of students is very important for this module, since students have to be able to
demonstrate their knowledge around psychopharmacology and the evidence-based treatments.

Formative feedback opportunities will be offered in the early part of the module to aid understanding
of the module content and to prepare students for their summative assessments. In-class workshops
and seminars will provide students with the opportunity to develop their understanding of the
assessment requirements and receive feedback on their preliminary plans for the module assessment.

Materials in support of the taught sessions will be made available at least 24 hours in advance of
delivery. It also expected you will undertake your own directed study to supplement the resources we
have provided.

A week-by-week schedule of the topics covered can be found below.

Week Lecture Seminar Workshop Directed Study

1 - Principles of chemical Discussion of Core textbooks

neurotransmission seminar structure,
team debate,
essays, case studies
2 - Drug absorption, routes of Mini quiz about Core textbooks
administration and drug lectures 1 + 2
metabolism

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 3 - Effects of legal (nicotine, alcohol) Team debate: can Core textbooks
and illegal (cannabis, cocaine) on alcohol be more
human psychobiology dangerous than
- Drug interaction illegal drugs?
4 - Tolerance, dependency and the Case study and Core textbooks
self-medication model group discussion
- Impulsivity, compulsivity and
addiction
5 - Depression and bipolar disorder- Journal article Core textbooks
Antidepressants and mood reading & discussion
stabilisers
6 - Anxiety disorders-anxiolytics, Journal article Core textbooks
hypnotics reading & discussion
7 - OCD, panic and phobic disorders- Case study and Core textbooks
drug treatments group discussion
8 - Psychosis, schizophrenia- Journal article Core textbooks
antipsychotics reading & discussion
9 - Pharmacology aiming at sexual Case study and Core textbooks
function group discussion
10 - Clinical trials and new drug Team debate: Core textbooks
introduction alternative medicine:
- Alternative medicine: herbal a placebo effect or
medication equivalent to
western medicine?
11 Q & A session
12 & 13 Assessment Weeks – please refer to the academic calendar

Module Assessment Description

The Psychopharmacology module has one assessment: a 2.500-3.000 – word essay (coursework 1).

You will select one essay title from a list provided by the module leader. This will inform a 2,500-3,000-
word essay critically evaluating contemporary debates in psychopharmacology. The essay will be
containing the following sections: title; abstract (150-250 words); main report, involving a critical
review of related studies (approx. 2.000 words); theoretical synthesis and topics for future study (300-
500 words); reference list. You may also use summary tables and figures (not included in the word
count).

Assessment Referrals

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 Students whose grade for their assessment(s) falls below 50% will be offered the chance to resubmit
the element(s) of course work that failed. This is known as a referral. Students who are referred will
need to rework their assessment(s) to a passing standard. The mark will be capped to 50%

EEC Assessment Details

Students who have an approved EEC for their coursework(s) will be required to rework their
assessment(s) to a passing standard. The work will be normally marked as a first sit.

Assessment Schedule

Assessment Weighting Submission Date Return Date

CW1: a 2.500-3.000-word essay 100% 23/05/2024 07/06/2024

(critical review)

Assessment Criteria & Assessment Rubrics

The full assessment criteria for this module can be found in an assessment brief located in the
assessment section of the module page.

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