Introduction to psychopharmacology

fakultatywne

w sali

The lecture aims to introduce the basic issues related to the subject of psychopharmacology.

At the beginning, the following will be presented: mechanisms of action of selected groups of drugs, taking into account the structure and types of cell receptors (affinity, agonists, antagonists, etc.), the phenomenon of secondary transmission and the characteristics of ion channels. We will consider why some drugs should not be taken with juices and which drugs have a chance to cross the blood-brain barrier.

Next, the basics of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics will be briefly discussed along with the issue of rational dosage and duration of action of drugs.

Then, in terms of the basics of neuropsychopharmacology, the basic groups of neurotransmitters and neuromodulators (noradrenaline, dopamine and serotonin, acetylcholine, oxytocin, etc.) will be discussed along with their receptors (e.g. cholinergic neurons, GABA-ergic receptors) and possible effects on synaptic and cellular processes related to with their action. On the occasion of the above characteristics, the basic functions of the central nervous system (CNS), their disorders and the effects of psychotropic drugs in the processes of: sleep and wakefulness, learning and memory (nootropic and procognitive drugs, pharmacotherapy of Alzheimer's disease), the functioning of the reward system (psychostimulants) will be presented.

In addition, we will look at drugs and their mechanisms of action, among others. in: mood disorders, depression, anxiety disorders (anxiolytics), treatment of chronic pain (opioid analgesics), epilepsy, pharmacotherapy of light and severe craniocerebral injuries and ADHD.

Other issues discussed during the lecture will concern the phenomenon of drug addiction and individual differences in their tolerance, as well as drug interactions and examples of adverse drug reactions.

Stahl, M. S. Stahl’s Essential Psychopharmacology. Neuroscientific Basis and Practical Applications. Fourth edition. Cambridge. University Press. Selected chapters.