Instructor: Ihab Istafanous MD

                             E-mail: istafanous@uthscsa.edu

                             Phone:  210-497-3453 
 

Instructor: Mounir Ibrahim MD

                             E-mail: mmibrahim@pol.net

                             Phone: 210-688-6190

 

Course Description:

This course is designed to teach the prospective lay counselor about the history and the development of psychopharmacologic agents, the biochemical nature of the central nervous system and its relationship with psychopharmacology. The legitimate use of medications and their importance for treatment are also examined.

 

Course Objectives

-Introduce students to the history and development of the psychopharmacology.

 

-Introduce students to the basic workings of the nerve cell and the biochemical nature of  the central nervous system 
 

-Introduce students to the classes of drugs used in psychopharmacology, their risks and benefits. 
 

-Provide students with an understanding of how the psychoactive drugs work. 
 

-Provide students with an understanding of when medical consultation or supervision is needed.

 

-Help students become conscious of their biases towards medications. 
 

-Help students understand factors related to better compliance with medication treatment.

 

-Help students to develop a balanced view of when medications are appropriate and what medications can, and cannot, do. 
 

-Help students to communicate better with physicians and psychiatrists in a confident and knowledgeable way regarding medication treatment

 

-Introduce students to ethical and legal issues related to pharmacologic treatment in psychiatric practice.

 

-Introduce student to the attitude of the Coptic Church as well as other churches, religions and cults towards psychopharmacologic treatment.

 

-Help students understand the effect of culture on compliance and response to the psychiatric medications.

 

-Introduce students to other forms of organic treatments including Electro Convulsive Therapy ( ECT), Transcranial Magnetic Therapy, Vagal Nerve Stimulation, Psychosurgery and Deep Brain Stimulation 

 

Required Text : (used for the reading assignments)

Hand Book of Clinical Psychopharmacology for Therapists. John D. Preston, Psy.D., ABPP, John H. O’Neal, M.D. Publisher: New Harbinger Publications, Inc.  
 

Recommended Text:

A Primer of Drug Action. Robert M. Julien M.D., Ph.D.

Course Requirements/Rules:

1. Attending the course’s lectures in the announced conference.

2. Having daily access to the Internet and basic typing skills.

3. There will be a test at the end of 5^th week and the 12^th week

4. There will be 2 essay questions each week to be answered on the topic

5. Turning assignments after the dead line may reduce the score by 25 % 
 
 

 
 

Reading Prior to Arrival:

Chapters 1 and 2 of the required Text

Distance Learning Lesson Schedule:

Week 1

History of biological psychiatry

Neurobiology: The neuron, synaptic transmission and neurotransmitters.

Reading:  Chapter 3

Week 2

Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics (how drugs are handled by the body) Pharmacodynamics (how drugs act)

Reading: Chapter 4 

Week 3

Preliminary Diagnostic Considerations.

Reading:  Chapter 5

Week 4

Drugs Used to Treat Depression (Antidepressants)

Reading:  Chapters 6&15

Week 5

Drugs Used to Treat Bipolar Disorder (Mood stabilizers)

Reading:  Chapters 7&16

Week 6

Drugs Used To Treat Anxiety Disorders (Anxiolytics)

Reading:  Chapters 8,11&17

Week 7

Drugs Used to Treat Psychotic Disorders (Antipsychotics)

Reading:  Chapter 10&18

Week 8

Religion and Psychopharmacology: history , biases and current views and biblical basis

Reading:  article will be provided at conference or by e-mail

Week 9

Ethical and Legal Issues Related To the Use of Medications in Treating Psychiatric Conditions

Reading:  article will be provided at conference or by e-mail

Week 10

Compliance with Medication Treatment

Reading:  Chapter 2 also another article will be provided at conference or by e-mail

Week 11

When to consult and refer for medication evaluation.

Reading:  Chapter 20

Week 12

Electrocunvulsive Therapy (ECT) and other forms of organic psychiatric treatments.

Reading:  article will be provided at conference or by e-mail.