SW 688: Psychopharmacology

This course addresses the neurobiological bases of major psychoactive drugs used in treatment of psychological and behavioral disorders in both a behavioral and primary care medical setting. Theoretical and practical approaches to treatment of depression, anxiety, insomnia, attention deficit, psychosis, and trauma-related stress disorders are examined with the goal of advancing students’ knowledge of best practices that complement current evidence-based interventions. Social work students will be prepared to facilitate clients’ needs in an interdisciplinary system that supplies a range of interventions within a biopsychosocial framework. Key tenets of this framework involve neurobiology, psychiatric disorders, mental wellness, and psychosocial advocacy. Students learn to identify these concerns along with the risk and benefits associated with psychotropic medications. Students will learn about laboratory testing and disease markers in the context of evidencebased medical models and evidence-based psychosocial intervention models. Students will increase their awareness and understanding of other disciplines while navigating services for clients in an inpatient or outpatient medical setting. Special consideration is given to the integration of psychotropic drugs, evidence- based therapies, the identification of drug–drug interactions, and empirical evidence regarding the effectiveness of psychotropic drug therapies. This is achieved through the lens of social work with emphasis on the effectiveness of an interprofessional approach in patient care and case management.