Clinical Psychopharmacology

This survey course aims to educate advanced practice nurses for safe and effective prescribing practices in the treatment of psychiatric illnesses. The course utilizes a symptom management framework that integrates concepts from normative psychobiology with pathophysiology of the psychiatric diseases. From this perspective, emphasis is placed on gaining a fundamental understanding of the hypothesized compliment between the pathophysiologic basis of the disease state and mechanism of action of the drug treatment as a basis for rational selection of pharmacologic treatment. Current standards of practice and treatment algorithms are emphasized in helping the student to develop a working knowledge of psychopharmacology for the practice arena.