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. 

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 

After successfully completing the module, students should be able to: 

1. understand the cognitive and neural bases of mood and behavioural disorders, 

2. describe the pharmacological mechanisms thought to be involved in their treatment with drugs and hormones, 

3. evaluate and compile the research evidence which underlies both the current use and the future development of psychoactive drugs. 

4. Communicate complex scientific ideas, accurately and informatively 

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.  

Indicative lecture list (based on 2020/21 syllabus) 


	Animal 'models' of psychiatric disorders 
	
	
	Depression and antidepressants 
	
	
	Post-traumatic stress disorder 
	
	
	Psychoactive steroids 
	
	
	Obsessive Compulsive Disorder 
	

	Affiliative behaviours 
	
	
	Addiction – animal models and drug targets 
	
	
	Addiction in humans and its treatment 
	
	
	Depression and anxiety 
	
	
	Neurochemical hypotheses and treatment strategies for schizophrenia 
	

	Drugs and feeding behaviour 
	
	
	Pharmacogenetics (psychotropics) and geriatric psychopharmacology 
	
	
	Cannabis: mental health and medicinal uses 
	
	
	Nootropic agents/cognitive enhancers 
	
	
	Neuroethics 