3 ECTS credits
90 h study time

Offer 2 with catalog number 4006271FER for all students in the 2nd semester at a (F) Master - specialised level.

Semester
2nd semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Possible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Enrollment Requirements
For this course you have to meet certain enrolment requirements. For an overview of the enrolment requirements check https://www.vub.be/en/studying-vub/practical-info-for-students/study-guidance/study-path/individual-study-path#paragraph--id--71647 Students must have taken ‘Biological psychology II’, before they can enroll in Practical Psychofarmacology and Clinical neuropsychology.
Taught in
Dutch
Faculty
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy
Department
Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences
Educational team
Ilse Smolders (course titular)
Activities and contact hours
26 contact hours Lecture
70 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

In this course the following psychopharmacological treatments are discussed: Antidepressants, Antipsychotics, Mood stabilisers, Antiepileptic drugs, Anxiolytics, Hypnotics, Anti-Alzheimer drugs, Drugs used to treat ADHD, personality disorders and eating disorders.

We will also discuss mechanisms of Drugs of abuse and their treatment.



We will introduce each chapter with the different neuromediators involved in the psychiatric disease, and we will discuss the known neurobiological adaptations in the diseased brain. The knowledge of the mechanisms of action of these drugs are essential to understand their therapeutic and adverse effects. Their indications, guidelines for use and side effects will also be discussed. 

Course material
Digital course material (Required) : powerpointpresentaties van de hoorcolleges zijn beschikbaar in PointCarré., Pointcarré
Handbook (Recommended) : Handboek Psychofarmacotherapie, M. Dierick, S Claes, A. De Nayer, P. Cosyns, E Constant, D Souery, Academia Press, 9789038218588, 2012
Handbook (Recommended) : Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology: Neuroscientific basis and practical applications, Neuroscientific basis and practical applications, Stephen M Stahl, 4de, Cambridge University Press, 9781108971638, 2021
Additional info

The powerpointpresentations of the lectures are available via the digital learning platform. 
 

Recommended literature:

Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology: Neuroscientific basis and practical applications, Stephen M Stahl, Cambridge University Press, 2008

Handbook Psychofarmacotherapie, eds. M. Dierick, S. Claes, A. De Nayer, P. Cosyns, E. Constant, D. Souery, Academia Press, 2012
 

Learning Outcomes

General competencies

To learn what are the available psychopharmacological tools to treat psychiatric disorders. Although psychology students will not themselves prescribe these drugs, it is of the utmost importance that they are aware of what the possibilties are, of why a patient might receive a particular drug, how it should be used, what are its potential side effects...

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Schriftelijk meerkeuze vragen with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

    Note: Schriftelijk meerkeuze vragen systeem in eerste zittijd

Additional info regarding evaluation

In first session written examination with mostly multiple choice questions, short open questions are also possible.

Several answers are possible in the multiple choice questions, so there is no giscorrection.

In second session oral examination with time for written preparation

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Psychology: Clinical Psychology (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Psychology: Afstudeerrichting arbeids- en organisatiepsychologie (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Teaching in Behavioural Sciences: psychologie (120 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)