COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, HUMANITIES, AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE
Psychology and Counseling Department
Alabama A&M University Normal, AL 35762 COURSE SYLLABUS SPRING 2023
Course Number PSY 605
Course Title PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY (3 Credit Hours) Call Number/Section 121189.202310
Class Times Tuesdays 6:00-9:00 pm (CST) Synchronous Online Class Location Synchronous Online
Prerequisites
Textbook and Other Resources
Ideal: (PSY 561) Individual Testing & PSY (610) Psychopathology
Required Textbook:
Author: R.H. Ettinger Title: Psychopharmacology Publisher: Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group Edition: 2nd ISBN: 978-1138833081
*Ideal* Diagnostic and Statistical Manual- Fifth Edition DSM-5 (2014). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.
Optional resource: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/research/researchfunded-by-nimh/rdoc/about-rdoc.shtml Instructor
Office Virtual via Blackboard Collaborate appointment
Office Hours By appointment
E-mail address Karen.ethridge@aamu.edu
Telephone number 256-372-4764
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND RATIONALE
Course Focus
This course is designed to acquaint non-medical mental health professionals (counselors, social workers, and psychologist) with the category and therapeutic effects of drugs used to treat behavioral disorders, as well as the adverse effects of both prescribed and major illicit drugs.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Knowledge domains (CACREP)
C.9 MEDICAL, FUNCTIONAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS OF DISABILITY
C.9.1. The human body system
C.9.1.a. explain basic medical aspects related to human body system and disabilities. C.9.2. Medical terminology and diagnosis
C.9.2.a. demonstrate an understanding of fundamental medical terminology C.9.2.b. demonstrate an understanding of the diagnostic process used by medical and other health professions Skills (CACREP)
• Section IV 2d Students will be able to understand the diagnostic process, including differential diagnosis and the use of current diagnostic classification systems, including the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)
2e Students will be able to understand the potential for substance use disorders to mimic and/or co-occur with a variety of neurological, medical, and psychological disorders
• Section IV Students will be able to use clinical cases, discuss how life events, crises, and stressors may affect diagnosis and treatment
• Section V. C3.b Students will have techniques and interventions for prevention and treatment of a broad range of mental health issues
• Section V. 2g Impact of biological and neurological mechanisms on mental health
2h Classifications, indications, and contraindications of commonly prescribed psychopharmacological medications for appropriate medical referral and consultation
CLASS FORMAT
This is a synchronous online course Instruction occurs in real-time with students participating in the course with the instructor through a video conference tool. This course uses a performance-based approach designed to enable the student to become an educational service professional through the development of proficiencies specific to knowledge, skills, and dispositions required by national, regional, state, and institutional standards. Through a constructivist design, learning will be facilitated by collaboration that results in feedback that
should contribute to continual reflection and self-assessment. Significant learning will be achieved through integrated experiences and performances designed to contribute toward the preparation of the student and the development of a skilled, entry-level practitioner who can help and assist all persons in a diverse society.
COURSE OUTCOMES
Students will:
1. Gain expose students to basic premises of the biological elements of psychopharmacology including relevant neurology, physiology, and pharmacokinetics.
2. Gain understanding of essential elements to the pharmaceutical intervention of selected mental health disorders including.
3. Gain understanding of psychological intervention of substance use disorders.
4. Explore individual, cultural, physiological considerations of pharmaceutical interventions and substance use disorder treatment
SERVICES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
The University provides environmental and programmatic access for persons with documented disabilities as defined in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disability Act of 1990. Any student who desires information or assistance in arranging needed services for a disabling condition should contact the Director of Special Students Services, Ralph H. Student Center,Room 203, (256) 372-4263. A student with a disability who needs academic accommodations should:
(1) Register with and provide documentation to AAMU certifying official in the Office of Disability Services to verify eligibility and to discuss the options for reasonable academic accommodations that might be available.
(2) Provide a letter to the instructor indicating the type of accommodation that is needed.
Plan Ahead
You have full access to all course assignments from the very beginning of this course. So, take some time to view the assignments and plan and work ahead if you can. There is nothing to prevent you from working ahead and storing the discussion board responses on your computer (to post later). In addition, make sure you plan out time for the course. This course will require hours of your time per week, not minutes of your time. You will need ample time to read, respond to discussion questions, participate in the discussion board, and complete both written and multimedia presentations. All take time. Stating to your instructor that you just too many obligations to complete the work is not acceptable. If you are enrolled, then you are expected to prioritize the class and complete all work on time.
Teaching Philosophy
My pedagogical philosophy is to equip students as scholar-practitioners and to facilitate your excellence and success. Your commitment to the course is an important aspect of your success. We all have busy lives and learning balance while practicing time management and prioritization is an important aspect of your success. I encourage each of you to find the intrinsic motivation to learn well and devote your best self to this course (and all your endeavors).
Since this is an online course your learning is based on your reading, interacting with your reading, and some collaboration interaction (through the discussion boards). It is important to be a strong self-facilitated and selfregulated learner. I am looking forward to participating in your learning and success in this course. There is a
significant amount of reading. The quizzes and the exams will focus on major/key terms and concepts. There are no trick questions. If you can grasp the foundational information at a high level that is what is required for the quizzes and exams. I will be posting helpful summaries to assist you but do not rely on them solely as the reading of all the material is critical to your success. There is also redundancy in the reading for reinforcement purposes. In addition, some authors resonate with some people more effectively, so I have used information from several sources to help you build knowledge and scaffold your learning. Redundancy and reinforcement are critical to your success.
Psychopharmacology is based heavily in neuroscience and is complex and challenging. The material is difficult. Allocate extra time. Reads the chapters many times and with strong attentive skills. I encourage you to make outlines, review then frequently and find times to reinforce your learning. This course has a significant amount of information, new terminology and specific details which are particularly important and often nuanced so focus, specificity, and attention are particularly important. You cannot do well in this course with a quick read and a last minute, procrastination approach. I am invested in your success but as I say to my therapy patients, the heavy lifting is your domain, I can only facilitate your success, but you are responsible for it.
Academic Dishonesty, Plagiarism, and Ethics
All acts of dishonesty in any work constitute academic misconduct that could result in such consequences as receipt of an “F” on a single assignment, failure in a course, and up to dismissal from the university. Academic dishonesty includes, but not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, and fabrication of information. In this course, Safe Assign is a universal tool used for checking similarities and plagiarism.
Student behavior should consistently demonstrate effort to behave professionally, i.e. cooperate, be positive, be quiet, know the course syllabus, practice emotional self-regulation, accept responsibility for performance, delay graduation, consider the rights of others. You are taking classes to acquire knowledge and skills, if you are striving for a specific grade; it is unethical to try to enlist the Professor’s aid on your behalf, or to put pressure on the Professor to try to get an A, for example. To be fair to all students, individual aid can become a fuzzy area that may lead to unequal, unfair opportunities.
Late Work: LATE WORK IS NOT ACCEPTED. If there are unforeseen circumstances you must email the instructor as soon as possible otherwise you will receive the grade of “0” for that assignment.
Incomplete Policy: Requests for a grade of “incomplete” must be initiated by the student to the instructor. Students may only request if at least 75% of course requirements have been met.
Discussion Board Make-up: Discussions Board activity cannot be made up since it is dependent on interaction with other students and is a core component to taking an online course.
Note to Students: Post all questions related to your Syllabus in the Q&A Chatroom. Failure to post any questions provides the institution with the understanding that you understand and support the full contents of this syllabus.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Failure to participate in the bi-weekly discussion boards and virtual meetings or assignments is the equivalent of missing a week’s worth of a face-to-face class. Points will be deducted for participation due to absences.
