84439 - Neuropsychopharmacology

Learning outcomes

Describe the classification, mechanism of action, indications, and side effects of drugs for the treatment of the main neurological diseases. Describe the classification, mechanism of action, indications, and side effects of drugs for the treatment of the main psychiatric disorders. Describe the classification, mechanism of action, indications, and side effects of drugs acting on the autonomic nervous system.

Course contents

 

Pharmacology of the autonomic nervous system:

• Drugs acting as cholinergic and adrenergic agonist: pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and side effects
• Drugs acting as cholinergic and adrenergic antagonist: pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and side effects

Drugs acting on dopaminergic transmisson:

• Drugs acting as agonist: pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and side effects
• Drugs acting as antagonist: pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and side effects

Drugs acting on serotonergic system:

• Drugs acting as agonist: pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and side effects
• Drugs acting as antagonist: pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and side effects

Drugs acting on GABA-ergic transmission:

• Drugs acting as agonist: pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and side effects
• Drugs acting as antagonist: pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and side effects

Hints on pharmacological therapy in neurodegenerative pathologies

Readings/Bibliography

1) Hitchings, Lonsdale, Burrage, Baker. "The top 100 drugs. Clinical pharmacology and practical prescribing." 2nd Edition, 2019, Elsevier.

2) Goodman and Gilman’s "The pharmacological basis of  Therapeutics." 13TH Edition. 2018. The McGraw-Hill Companies.

3) Stahl S. "Stahl's Essential psychopharmacology." 5th Ediction Cambrige Medicine

Teaching methods

Interactive lectures where general rules are derived from practical examples taken from everyday experience. Teaching materials and slides are made available to the students via the moodle platform at least the day before the lesson. During the lessons, it is important for students to have direct access (online or off-line) to the teaching materials in order to be able to concentrate on specific contents rather than on reproducing slides.

Attending lessons plays an important role in the learning process. During lessons, the teachers guides the students in the critical reading of the teaching materials and provides opportunities for online formative assessment.

Final summative assessment takes also into account the level of critical thinking achieved by the student while illustrating the extracted topic.

Attendance to learning activities is mandatory; the minimum attendance requirement to be admitted to the final exam is 60% of lessons. For Integrated Courses (IC), the 60% attendance requirement refers to the total amount of I.C. lessons. Students who fail to meet the minimum attendance requirement will not be admitted to the final exam of the course, and will have to attend relevant classes again during the next academic year.

Professors may authorise excused absences upon receipt of proper justifying documentation, in case of illness or serious reasons. Excused absences do not count against a student’s attendance record to determine their minimum attendance requirement.

Assessment methods

The final exam will be an oral assessment to verify the achievement of objectives (critical thinking, knowledge of topics) within the integrated course of Neurological, Psychiatric Diseases and Pain (I.C.).

The module exam of "NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY" will be an oral assessment to verify the achievement of objectives (critical thinking, knowledge of topics) within the integrated course of Neurological, Psychiatric Diseases and Pain (I.C.).

The candidate will have to develop a critical analysis on the topic that will be drawn from the following list:

1) Autonomic nervous system drugs, types of neurotransmission
2) Drugs and GABA-ergic transmission
3) Drugs that interfere with serotonergic and central adrenergic transmission: antidepressants
4) Drugs that interfere with dopaminergic transmission: antipsychotics
5) Drugs that interfere with dopaminergic transmission: drugs for the treatment of parkinson's disease
6) Hints on pharmacological therapy in neurodegenerative pathologies

Assessment methods The final exam will be an oral assessment to verify the achievement of objectives (critical thinking, knowledge of topics) within the integrated course of Neurological, Psychiatric Diseases and Pain (I.C.). The assessment regarding "NEUROLOGY" will be mainly focused on topics covered in class. For logistic reasons, the exam of the I.C. will be divided in 2 modules.

Module A (Psychiatry, Clinical Psycology, Neuropsycopharmacology, Anaesthesiology and Pain Management; total 7 CFU)

20.01.25

24.02.25

16.06.25

14.07.25

15.09.25

Exam sessions to be held at 3:00 p.m (afternoon) at Viale Carlo Pepoli 5.

Module B (Neurology, Neuroradiology, In vivo Neurometabolic Diagnostics, Neuropathology, Neurosurgery; total 8 CFU)

23.01.25

27.02.25

19.06.25

17.07.25

18.09.25

Exam sessions to be held at 9:00 a.m (morning) at Bellaria Hospital, Pavilion G, First Floor

FINAL GRADES

Taking the module B exam only after having passed the module A is mandatory. At the end of each module, the Commission will score the overall student’s performance in each module according to the following scale:

o Outstanding 30/30L: full preparation, consolidated and without inaccuracies on the topics covered in the integrated course. Ability to promptly frame the topic. Ability to analyze and connect independently the different topics. Concepts in the right succession and full command of the specific language with some original elaboration by the student.

o Excellent 29-30/30: full preparation, consolidated and without significant inaccuracies on the topics covered in the course. Ability to promptly frame the topic. Ability to analyze and connect independently. Concepts in the right succession and full command of the specific language.

o Very good 27-28/30: preparation of very good level, but with significant inaccuracies in the presentation that compromise the achievement of full marks. Ability to analyze and link independently. Exposure of concepts in the right succession and with appropriate language.

o Good 23-26/30: preparation of good level, but with important inaccuracies in the presentation. Ability to analyze and link after input from the teacher. Exposure of concepts in the right succession and with appropriate language.

o Sufficient 18-22/30 knowledge limited to the basic concepts without serious gaps, only after input from the teacher. Exposition of concepts and language acceptable as a whole.

o Insufficient <18/30: lack of preparation. Serious and repeated conceptual errors.

The final mark of the Integrated Course Neurological, Psychiatric Disease and Pain (from 18/30 upwards) will be assigned when the student has completed both modules (i.e. during the Thursday session when module B is held). The student will be allowed to accept or decline the final grade by communicating the decision.

If a student does not achieve a pass score in module B, she/he will be allowed to sit again only for that module, maintaining the positive evaluation obtained in the other module A, as long as this happens within the same academic year (please be aware that last exam session is scheduled for 18.09.25). If a student has not completed all the exams of the integrated course within the academic year, must redo both modules.

Teaching tools

Students are encouraged to attend the lectures with a printout of the relevant file downloaded from moodle or bringing electronic devices to access the relevant material during the lecture. This will allow easier interaction with the teacher when asked to discuss a problem.

Also e-learning material (including scientific literature and self-assessment tools) will be provided.

Interactive lectures where general rules are derived from practical examples taken from everyday experience. Teaching materials and slides are made available to the students via the moodle platform at least the day before the lesson. During the lessons, it is important for students to have direct access (online or off-line) to the teaching materials in order to be able to concentrate on specific contents rather than on reproducing slides.

Office hours

See the website of Roberto Rimondini Giorgini