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University Centre Of Maghnia

Psychopharmacology Course Overview

For Third-Year Students – Clinical Psychology 

Maghnia University Center

Dr. Oussama MEDJAHDI

Welcome Message

Dear Third-Year Students,

I am delighted to introduce this essential course, Psychopharmacology, tailored to equip you with the scientific and practical foundations necessary to understand the effects of psychotropic medications on the nervous system and human behavior. This course also aims to help you integrate pharmacological insights into your future clinical psychological practice.

With the increasing complexity of psychological disorders and the common use of psychotropic drugs, it is vital for clinical psychologists to develop a solid understanding of pharmacological interventions. This course will enable you to:

Distinguish psychological symptoms from medication side effects

Understand mechanisms of action, classifications, and therapeutic uses of psychotropic drugs

Work effectively as part of multidisciplinary healthcare teams

Communicate medication-related information to patients and families

Understand ethical and legal considerations of medication use in Algeria

Analyze clinical cases from both psychological and pharmacological perspectives

This course is delivered in a semester-based format 2024-2025, and consists of 24 instructional hours, spread over 16 weeks, with each lecture lasting 90 minutes.
The course will be delivered remotely (online) to facilitate accessibility and flexibility in learning. It combines theoretical input, clinical examples, and interactive discussions to foster deep understanding and critical engagement.

Please note: This course does not train you to prescribe medications. It prepares you to collaborate meaningfully with prescribers and better support your patients.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

Understand the basic principles of pharmacology and their relevance to psychological practice.

Identify and classify the major categories of psychotropic medications and their clinical applications.

Explain the mechanisms of action of key neurotransmitters and how they relate to psychopharmacological treatment.

Recognize the side effects and interactions of psychotropic drugs, and differentiate them from psychological symptoms.

Collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams in the treatment of mental disorders.

Educate patients and families about the appropriate use and effects of psychotropic medications.

Analyze clinical case studies using both psychological and pharmacological perspectives.

Reflect on ethical and legal considerations related to the use of psychotropic medications in Algeria.

Prerequisites

To fully benefit from this course, students are expected to have:

A foundational understanding of general psychology and clinical psychology.

Basic knowledge of human anatomy and physiology, especially the nervous system.

Prior exposure to psychopathology, including the classification and diagnosis of mental disorders.

Critical thinking skills and the ability to analyze case studies from a clinical perspective.

Dear Third-Year Students, Clinical Psychology Major at the Maghnia University Center,
I am delighted to introduce to you this essential course, "Psychopharmacology," designed to equip you with both scientific and practical foundations regarding the effects of psychotropic medications on the nervous system and human behavior, as well as how to integrate pharmacological knowledge into clinical psychological practice.
This course is developed in response to the growing need for psychologists to understand the close relationship between biological processes and psychological disorders. 

It aims to empower you to:
Differentiate between psychological symptoms and the side effects of medications,
Understand the mechanisms of action, classifications, and therapeutic uses of psychotropic drugs,
Strengthen your ability to collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary medical teams,
Develop skills to educate patients and their families about medication use,
Gain insight into the ethical and legal aspects surrounding psychotropic medication use in Algeria,
Analyze clinical cases from an integrated psychological and pharmacological perspective.
It is important to emphasize that this course does not aim to qualify you to prescribe medication. Rather, it prepares you as future psychologists to understand the interaction between pharmacological treatments and psychotherapy — a critical skill that will enhance the quality of care you provide to your patients.
Throughout this course, we will cover the fundamental principles of pharmacology, major classes of psychotropic medications, neurotransmitters and hormones involved in psychological disorders, with a strong focus on clinical applications, real case studies, and advanced lectures on serotonin, dopamine, GABA, and the role of neurotransmitters and hormones in anxiety disorders.
I invite you to approach this course with curiosity, enthusiasm, and a desire to grow both scientifically and professionally. Together, we will build a deeper understanding that will enrich your future clinical practice.
Looking forward to an exciting and enriching journey with you all.

Final Note:

This course will challenge you to think integratively — bridging the gap between brain, behavior, and treatment. Your engagement, curiosity, and reflection will make this journey valuable and transformative for your future practice as clinical psychologists.