COUN 570 Psychopharmacology

This course will cover the psychological, behavioral, cultural, and clinical aspects of pharmacological substances. The impact of substances on brain chemistry, toxicology, as well as addiction treatment and prevention will be explored. Students will learn about drugs of abuse, pharmacological treatments for addictive disorders, and medications utilized for general mental health disorders.

Credits

3

Outcomes

1. 01. neurological, behavioral, psychological, physical, and social effects of psychoactive substances and addictive disorders on the user and significant others (CACREP, 2016, 5.A.1e)
2. 02. potential for addictive and substance use disorders to mimic and/or co-occur with a variety of medical and psychological disorders (CACREP, 2016, 5.A.2b)
3. 03. factors that increase the likelihood for a person, community, or group to be at risk for or resilient to psychoactive substance use disorders (CACREP, 2016, 5.A.2c)
4. 04. classifications, indications, and contraindications of commonly prescribed psychopharmacological medications for appropriate medical referral and consultation diagnostic process, including differential diagnosis and the use of current diagnostic classification systems, including the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) (CACREP, 2016, 5.A.2h)
5. 05. cultural factors relevant to addiction and addictive behavior (CACREP, 2016, 5.A.2j)
6. 06. Drugs of abuse, medication-assisted treatment for addictive disorders, and medications used to treat mental health disorders (ND administrative code 4.5-02.1-01-03)