Handbook home
Psychopharmacology and Intro to EBM (PSYT90118)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Not available in 2020
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
Fees | Look up fees |
---|
This subject will delve into principles of psychopharmacology and an introduction to evidence based medicine (EBM).
Prescribing medications is one of the core skills of doctors worldwide. This subject provides a comprehensive overview of the psychotropic medications used by doctors to treat mental health problems. It provides an understanding of the classification of these compounds, mechanism of action, efficacy, side effects and important drug interactions. This subject will also provide a basic understanding of critical appraisal skills which students will be able to use to assess the quality of scientific literature and make objective scientific judgements on the applicability and usefulness to their local population. It will also provide an understanding of good clinical practice guidelines to provide improved care.
Intended learning outcomes
Upon completion of this subject, students will be expected to:
- develop an advanced understanding of the mechanism of action psychopharmacological agents used in the treatment of psychiatric disorders including antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilisers and hypnotics;
- be able to articulate and describe the basic pharmacological principles and their relevance to clinical prescribing;
- understand efficacy, side effects and drug interactions of psychotropic medications;
- learn how to critically appraise and synthesise available literature and understand the concepts around application of this to the context the student is working in;
- be able to identify relevant clinical practice guidelines and critically appraise, examine and assess their application in treatment; and
- have an advanced capacity to critically compare and analyse the strengths and weaknesses of an evidence base in the field of mental health.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
PSYT90117 | Basic Clinical Skills in Psychiatry | Not available in 2024 |
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Three short answer exercises (approximately 500 words each)
| Throughout the semester | 30% |
A pharmacokinetic calculation exercise, approx. 1 hour (Approx 1500 words)
| Throughout the semester | 30% |
Critical analysis exercise based on a journal article or case material (Approx 2000-2500 words)
| At the end of the assessment period | 40% |
Completion of 75% of online modules Hurdle requirement: Completion of 75% of online modules based on participation in formative acitivites throughout term. | Throughout the semester | N/A |
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
Not available in 2020
Time commitment details
Total estimated time commitment includes hours spent doing pre-readings, completing online modules (contact hours) and participating in formative and summative assessments.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
There are no specifically prescribed or recommended texts for this subject.
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
Students applying to do this subject under the Community Access Program must meet the course entry requirements to be eligible. Please refer to the Graduate Diploma of International Psychiatry Handbook entry.
Last updated: 3 November 2022