Need Assistance? 01384 442752 (UK)

PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY (DRUGS & PSYCHOLOGY) BPS302

Duration (approx) 100 hours
Qualification
Statement of Attainment
Why Study Psychopharmacology?

Psychopharmacology is the study of how drugs affect a person’s behaviour, brain and their mental state. Psychopharmacology also looks at ways to treat and support people who have problems with drug addiction.

Many people today use drugs and medication. Drugs can be legal and illegal.  All drugs have an impact upon a person’s behaviour and/or health, and many have side effects.

This psychopharmacology course is useful for anyone who

  • Struggles with drug addiction themselves.
  • Lives with someone with drug problems.
  • Works or supports people with drug problems. For example, counsellors, pharmacists, pharmacy assistants, hospitality workers, welfare workers, psychologists, teachers, youth workers etc.

What Will You Learn From the Psychopharmacology Course?

During the course you will learn –

  • How drugs and other substances affect the brain and behaviour.
  • Side effects.
  • The long- and short-term impact of taking drugs.
  • The impact of drug use on both the individual and society in general.
  • Illegal drug use, over the counter and prescription drug use, everyday drugs like alcohol, caffeine and nicotine.
  • Hallucinogens, hypnotics, stimulants, anti-depressants.
  • Illegal drugs, such as marijuana and heroin.
  • Drugs found in everyday consumables, such as caffeine and alcohol.
  • Dependency and ways to overcome dependency.
  • And more.

The course will give you an understanding of psychopharmacology and the impact of drugs on behaviour.

It's easy to enrol...

1
Select a learning location:
2
Select a payment plan:

3
Select a learning method

4

COURSE CONTENT

There are eleven lessons in the course covering - 

1. Introduction: A history of the use and misuse of drugs in society

  • Scope and nature of drugs; legal and illegal
  • Amphetamine
  • Cocaine
  • Crack
  • LSD
  • Ritalin
  • Steroids
  • How heroin is used
  • Medical consequences of chronic heroin abuse
  • Names used for heroin 

2. Effects of drugs on the individual and society

  • Community acceptance
  • Terminology
  • Why people use drugs
  • Addiction; how drugs work in the brain
  • Central nervous system
  • Physiological and psychological effects of drugs
  • Alcohol effects
  • Sedative effects
  • Stimulant effects
  • Hallucinogenics
  • Psychological effects of drugs

3. Legally restricted drugs: Stimulants and narcotics

  • Stimulants
  • Symptoms of abuse
  • How cocaine is abused
  • How does cocaine effect the brain
  • What adverse effects does cocaine have on health
  • Added danger; cocaethylene
  • Treatment options
  • Scope of cocaine abuse
  • Narcotics
  • Abuse symptoms
  • Forms and dangers
  • Designer drugs
  • Ecstasy pill

4. Legally restricted drugs: Hallucinogens and marijuana

  • Effects of hallucinogens
  • Symptoms of abuse
  • LSD
  • Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder
  • Marijuana
  • Effects of marijuana on the brain
  • Symptoms of abuse, forms of marijuana and dangers
  • Phencyclidine (PCP)
  • Symptoms of abuse, forms of PCP and dangers

5. Legally restricted drugs: Steroids

  • Steroids
  • Symptoms of abuse, forms of steroids and dangers

6. Legal drugs: Alcohol 

  • Symptoms of abuse and dangers with alcohol
  • Alcoholism
  • Staying in control with alcohol
  • Alcohol amnestic syndrome (Korsakoff's syndrome)
  • Treating Korsakoff’s syndrome)
  • Alcohol and the developing brain

7. Legal drugs: Tobacco, caffeine and solvents

  • Nicotine addiction
  • Effects of nicotine on the circulatory system
  • Caffeine
  • Caffeine addiction
  • Solvents (volatile solvent abuse): symptoms and dangers

8. Prescription and over-the-counter drugs

  • Prescription drugs (Over the counter or OTC)
  • Groups of prescription drugs
  • Misuse of OTC drugs
  • Opioids
  • Treatments for opioid addiction
  • CNS depressants
  • Stimulants
  • Stimulant abuse and treatment for stimulant addiction

9. Sedatives and anti-anxiety drugs

  • Anti-anxiety drugs
  • Barbiturates
  • Benzodiazepines
  • Depressants
  • Rohypnol

10. Prescription drugs for schizophrenia and affective disorders

  • Schizophrenia
  • Onset of schizophrenia
  • Symptoms of schizophrenia
  • Treatment for schizophrenia
  • Anti-psychotic drugs
  • Patient support system
  • Depression
  • Depressive disorders
  • Type of depression
  • Unipolar disorder
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Causes of depression
  • Anti-depressants

11. Treatment and preventative education

  • Drug addiction
  • Behavioural and psychosocial treatments for drug addiction
  • Treatments for heroin addiction
  • Behavioural therapies for heroin addiction
  • Detoxification

AIMS

  • Understand the origins and changes in drug use in society;
  • Identify patterns of drug-taking behaviour;
  • Identify social, psychological and physical consequences of drug-taking on the individual;
  • Understand the effects of stimulants and narcotics on the individual;
  • Understand the effects of hallucinogens and marijuana on the individual;
  • Understand the effects of anabolic steroids on the individual;
  • Determine health and behavioural outcomes of alcohol use and misuse;
  • Determine health and behavioural outcomes of nicotine, caffeine and solvent use and misuse;
  • Understand the effects of the major categories of OTC drugs and prescription regulations;
  • Understand the effects of sedatives and anti-anxiety drugs on the brain and behaviour;
  • Understand the effects of different types of anti-psychotic and anti-depressant drugs on the brain and behaviour;
  • Describe different methods of treatment and prevention of drug-abuse and to discuss ways of educating the public as to the outcomes of taking drugs.

Ready to Enrol? Any Questions?

The course will increase your knowledge of the relationship between the brain, drugs and behaviour.   It is useful for anyone supporting/working with people with problems with drugs and the impact on their behaviour.

You can enrol today by clicking the “Enrol Now” button above.

Or

Click here to Contact a Psychology Tutor.

Or Request a Prospectus Here.
Courses can be started anytime from anywhere in the world!

Meet some of our academics

Tracey Jones (psychology)B.Sc. (Hons) (Psychology), M.Soc.Sc (social work), DipSW (social work), PGCE (Education), PGD (Learning Disability Studies) Tracey began studying psychology in 1990. She has a wide range of experience within the psychology and social work field, particularly working with people with learning disabilities. She is also qualified as a teacher and now teaches psychology and social work related subjects. She has been a book reviewer for the British Journal of Social Work and has also written many textbooks, blogs, articles and ebooks on psychology, writing, sociology, child development and more. She has had also several short stories published.
Jacinda Cole B.Sc.,M.Psych.Psychologist, Educator, Author, Psychotherapist. B.Sc., Psych.Cert., M. Psych. Cert.Garden Design, MACA. Jacinda has over 25 years of experience in psychology, in both Australia and England. She has co-authored several psychology text books and many courses including diploma and degree level courses in psychology and counselling. Jacinda joined ACS in 2001.
Jade SciasciaBiologist, Business Coordinator, Government Environmental Dept, Secondary School teacher (Biology); Recruitment Consultant, Senior Supervisor in Youth Welfare, Horse Riding Instructor (part-completed) and Boarding Kennel Manager. Jade has a B.Sc.Biol, Dip.Professional Education, Cert IV TESOL, Cert Food Hygiene.


Check out our eBooks

Coping Better with Negative EmotionsThis book is designed to help you understand the things that cause stress, the problems that can arise, and the broad range of ways people might manage their stress.
Drug and Addiction CounsellingThis eBook examines what addiction is, the physical and emotional effects of substance related disorders, and the different treatments available to help a person to control their disorder.
Psychological ProfilingPsychological profiling is used to assess anyone from potential new staff and school children to serial killers. It helps you to determine someone’s personality, neuroses, mental health and career suitability. This book provides an excellent overview of psychological profiling techniques and pitfalls.
Counselling HandbookA book for both students, as well as volunteers who may be involved in helping people with problems. This is a starting point for understanding counselling, and a reference for developing counselling skills. The book contains seven chapters: 1. Where can counselling be used 2. How to see behind the mask 3. Emotions and attitudes 4. How to communicate better when all you have is words 5. Theory versus practice 6. Diffusing difficult situations 7. Golden rules or tips