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PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
PSYCHOLOGY 223
Fall, 2007
MWF 8:00-8:50 AM; Lafayette L411
Instructor
Amy C. Chess, Ph.D.
Email: [email protected]
Office Hours: By appointment
Course Description
This course will explore the effects of drugs (both medical and recreational) on behavior. Topics will include
drug effects on learning, memory, motivation, perception, emotions, and aggression.
Prerequisites
Junior or senior standing; Psychology 109 and Psychology 121 or 222.
Required Readings & Textbooks
Meyer, J.S., & Quenzer, L.F. (2005). Psychopharmacology: Drugs, the Brain, and Behavior. Sinauer
Associates: Sunderland, MA.
Recommended Readings
Langston, J.W., & Palfreman, J. (1996). The Case of the Frozen Addicts: Working at the Edge of the Human
Brain. Random House: New York, NY.
Course Structure
This course deals with the neuroscience of psychoactive substances. We will not cover political issues such as
medical marijuana, nor will the course focus on the sociology of drug use. Instead, this course will focus almost
entirely on the mechanism of a drug’s effect and the resulting psychological and behavioral effects of drug use.
The course is organized into four sections. An exam will follow each of these four sections. The first section
will provide background information about pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, electrical signaling by
neurons, structure of the nervous system, and chemical signaling at synapses. These principles will lay the
foundation for the rest of the course. The second part of the course will be devoted to specific neurotransmitter
systems and their receptors. We will talk in detail about the localization of major neurotransmitter pathways in
the brain, as well as signal transduction pathways for each receptor type. The third part of the course will be
devoted to drugs of abuse and drug dependence and addiction. You will notice that the topics for November
5th-November 14th on the syllabus are TBA. On the first day of class, you will vote for topics that you would
like to cover during those lectures. Possible choices include alcohol, opiates, cocaine, amphetamine, nicotine,
caffeine, marijuana, hallucinogens, inhalants, anabolic-androgenic steroids, or anxiolytics. The fourth and final
section of the class will focus on drugs and psychopathology. We will be talking about the therapeutic benefits
of certain types of drugs in the treatment of anxiety, schizophrenia, and depression. There is one required text
for this course, nevertheless, I will also assign a few short articles throughout the course to supplement our
textbook.
I will mostly lecture during class time. It is important (and required) that you attend each class meeting so you
do not fall behind with the material. The concepts in this course build hierarchically upon one another so that
missing a few lectures can prove detrimental to your mastery of the material. If you are coming to class and
still feel a little lost, let me know as soon as possible so that we can meet and get you up to speed. You will
learn the material by attending lectures, taking good notes, asking good questions, and carefully reading your
text. There will be four exams, including the final exam. You will also write a final paper that will demonstrate
your knowledge of the material. I will do my best to adhere to the topics outlined in the syllabus, however, it is
possible that we may spend more or less time on certain topics, depending on student interest.
Evaluation and Grading
•
Attendance & class participation = 10% of final grade
You are expected to attend all class sessions. Attendance will be taken. Missing class will hinder your
understanding of the material and will affect your final grade. Asking questions and participating in
class discussions is critical to doing well in the course. YOU MUST DO THE ASSIGNED READINGS
PRIOR TO COMING TO CLASS.
•
Final paper = 30% of final grade (NO LATE PAPERS ARE ACCEPTED.)
You will have the opportunity to write a paper on an aspect of psychopharmacology that you find
interesting. Your paper can focus on a specific drug, a specific class of neurotransmitters, or the
treatment of a specific psychological disorder. You will practice and refine your ability to write
scientifically and will expand upon some of the concepts that you have been introduced to in the course.
As you are developing the idea for your paper, please do not hesitate to use me as a resource. Meeting
with me during office hours or sending me an e-mail will help get your questions answered!
•
Four exams = each 15% of final grade (Final exam is NOT cumulative)
Many find these exams very challenging! Exams are comprised of multiple choice, matching, and short
answer/essay. I often ask questions that require you to go beyond the material presented in class. I
provide study guides prior to each exam. Be sure to review these carefully. Please e-mail me with
specific questions you may have prior to the exam. I will respond to your question and e-mail both the
question and answer to the whole class (omitting your name) so that everyone can benefit from the
questions that are asked. Make-up exams will only be given under extraordinary circumstances, in
consultation with the Dean’s Office.
EXAM DATES: September 28, October 31, November 16, Final Exam (not cumulative)
December 7
Academic Honesty Policy
Participation in this course indicates that your work will be completed in full observance of the UVM Academic
Honesty Policy. Academic dishonesty includes cheating on exams, plagiarism, and receiving unauthorized help
on take-home assignments. Students engaging in these acts will fail the course, at a minimum.
Students with Disabilities
If you have a documented disability, please contact me immediately (no later than the end of the second week of
classes) so we can arrange a meeting time to discuss any accommodations that you may need. Please be
advised that I cannot make any accommodations (i.e. extra exam time) for those without written documentation
of a disability. If you need to discuss disability-related issues with a specialist, please contact the ACCESS
program in University of Vermont Disability Services: 802.656.775
Religious Holidays
It is University policy to excuse absences due to observance of religious holidays. If you need to miss class or
an exam due to a religious holiday, you must submit your religious holiday schedule to me in writing by the end
of the second full week of classes. You will be permitted to make up the work or exams in a timely fashion
without penalty to your grade.
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COURSE OUTLINE
DATE
TOPIC
READINGS/ASSIGNMENTS
PART I: THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
Aug 27
Course Overview & Introduction
Aug 29
History of Psychopharmacology
Aug 31
Pharmacokinetics
Sept 3
NO CLASS-LABOR DAY
Sept 5
Pharmacokinetics
Sept 7
Pharmacodynamics
Chapter 1, pgs. 21-31
Sept 10
Pharmacodynamics
Conditioned Compensatory Response
Handout: Siegel et al. 1982
Sept 12
Neurons & Electrical Signaling
Chapter 2, pgs. 33-37
Sept 14
Neurons & Electrical Signaling
Sept 17
Organization of the Nervous System
Chapter 2, pgs. 47-61
Sept 19
Chemical Signaling
Chapter 3
Sept 21
Chemical Signaling
Sept 24
Chemical Signaling
Sept 26
Methods in Neuropharmacology
Sept 28
EXAM 1
Chapter 1, pgs. 3-21
Chapter 4
PART II: NEUROTRANSMITTERS & THEIR RECEPTORS
Oct 1
Overview of Catecholamines
Chapter 5, pgs. 119-124
Oct 3
Dopaminergic System
Chapter 5, pgs. 124-132
Oct 5
Dopaminergic System/Parkinson’s Disease
Abstract of Final Paper Due
Oct 8
Noradrenergic System
Chapter 5, pgs. 132-137
Oct 10
Noradrenergic System
Oct 12
Acetylcholine
Chapter 6, pgs. 139-151
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Oct 15
Acetylcholine
Oct 17
Serotonin
Oct 19
Serotonin
Oct 22
Glutamate
Oct 24
Glutamate
Oct 26
GABA
Oct 29
GABA
Oct 31
EXAM 2
Chapter 6, pgs. 151-160
Chapter 7, pgs. 163-176
Chapter 7, pgs. 176-182
PART III: DRUG ABUSE, DEPENDENCE & ADDICTION
Nov 2
Drug Abuse, Dependence, & Addiction
Chapter 8
Nov 5
Alcohol
Chapter 9
Nov 7
Cocaine
Chapter 11, pgs. 275-292
Nov 9
Amphetamines: ADHD
Chapter 11, pgs. 292-300
Nov 12
Hallucinogens
Chapter 14
Nov 14
Hallucinogens
Nov 16
EXAM 3
Nov 19-23
NO CLASS-THANKSGIVING RECESS
PART IV: DRUGS IN THE TREATMENT OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
Nov 26
Affective Disorders
Chapter 16
Nov 28
Anxiety Disorders
Chapter 17
Nov 30
Anxiety Disorders
Final Paper Due
Dec 3
Schizophrenia
Chapter 18
Dec 5
Schizophrenia
Dec 7
FINAL EXAM (11:45 AM-2:45 PM; Lafayette L411)
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