3 hours. An introductory level course on neurobiology and psychopharmacology for students preparing for a career in counseling, this course introduces the nervous system and how/why the body acts as it does on drugs. The pharmacodynamics & pharmacokinetics for each major class of psychotropic medications is covered along with the psychosocial treatments recommended to be concurrent with medications. Approaches to talking with clients about medication and medication compliance are presented as are models for collaborating with prescribing professionals. Other topics introduced are social and cultural issues that impact responses to psychotropic medication; research on common medication issues for children, the elderly, and individuals with alcohol or drug-related disorders; and current research on the use of herbaceuticals. The course concludes with an examination of the neurobiology of sleep, of attachment in the psychotherapy relationship, and of wellness. Core (CSR, D)

Required Texts

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7^th ed.). ISBN 13: 9781433832161

Ingersoll, E. & Rak, C. (2015). Psychopharmacology for mental health professionals: An integrative approach (2^nd ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning. ISBN-13: 978-1285845227

Recommended Reading

Preston, J., & Johnson, J. (2015). Clinical psychopharmacology made ridiculously simple (8^th ed.). Miami, FL: MedMaster. ISBN-13: 978-1935660170

By the end of the course, students will be expected to demonstrate their understanding of the following learning outcomes:

Professional Counseling Orientation and Ethical Practice (2016 CACREP 2.F.1)

b. the multiple professional roles and functions of counselors across specialty areas, and their relationships with human service and integrated behavioral health care systems, including interagency and interorganizational collaboration and consultation

Human Growth and Development (2016 CACREP 2.F.3)

e. biological, neurological, and physiological factors that affect human development, functioning, and behavior

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Foundations (2016 CACREP 5.C.1)

d. neurobiological and medical foundation and etiology of addiction and co-occurring disorders

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Contextual Dimensions (2016 CACREP 5.C.2)

e. potential for substance use disorders to mimic and/or co-occur with a variety of neurological, medical, and psychological disorders

g. impact of biological and neurological mechanisms on mental health

h. classifications, indications, and contraindications of commonly prescribed psychopharmacological medications for appropriate medical referral and consultation

Objectives derived from required reading that are not directly tied to programmatic student learning objectives:

1. Students will describe why therapists need more than just a physiological or medical understanding of psychotropic medications.

2. Students will know the basic parts of the central nervous system and the divisions of the peripheral nervous system.

3. Students will generally describe functions related to the brain stem, midbrain, and neocortex.

4. Students will describe the blood-brain barrier, its function, how drugs pass through it, and why it is important to the designers of psychotropic medication.

5. Students will identify both excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters.

6. Students will generally outline the story of neurotransmission including first and second messenger effects, neuronal firing, and the binding and reuptake/breakdown of neurotransmitters.

7. Students will describe three broad mechanisms of how drugs interfere with the process of neurotransmission.

8. Students will describe the concepts of half-life, steady state, titration, and maintenance dose.

9. Students will know the predictors of medication noncompliance and therapeutic ways to work through them with clients.

10. Students will understand the advocacy role mental health professions play regarding medication usage and be able to identify ethical concerns that arise when dealing with prescribing professionals.

11. Students will give a general definition of ethno-pharmacotherapy and its main concerns.

12. Students will understand the history of, the medical model theories of how they work, the common drugs in that category, and the common side effects of the following five major drug groups: anti-depressants, anxiolytics, antipsychotics, mood-stabilizers, and stimulants.

13. Students will understand the increase in psychotropic medications for children, federal laws that impact this area, and the challenges and developmental unknowns that are associated with giving kids psychotropic medication.

14. Students will know eight herbs most commonly used in treating psychological symptoms, their mechanisms of action, and side effects.

15. Students will understand the debate over medical and recreational marijuana use.

16. Students will have an increased understanding about the pharmacological treatments for substance-abuse-related concerns.

17. Students will know the history, findings, and future avenues or research related to the use of pharmacological substances to catalyze and enhance psychotherapy.

18. Students will understand the psychosocial interventions and pharmaceutical interventions commonly used to treat elderly clients.