Course Syllabus

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HR 5893 - Psychopharmacology

Contact Information

This table includes information about how to contact your instructor and other important details about your class

Dr. Braeuer

Office Hours: By appointment

Email: kbraeuer@ou.edu 

Live Session: Mondays, 7pm-8pm (Central)

Zoom link

Meeting ID: 955 6325 9662

Password: 98267530

 

 

 

 

 

Katie Braeuer, PhD, LPC-S, LCDC, NCC

Core Faculty

Human Relations Department

Course Details

For a list of course activities, scroll to the bottom of this page.

Course Description

Catalog Description

This course serves as an introduction to psychopharmacology for mental health counselors and the commonly prescribed psychotropic medications used to address mental health disorders as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR). Emphasis will be placed on the use of medications from a biopsychosocial perspective and the therapeutic role of the counselor. 

Faculty-Created Description

This course will focus on psychotropic medications as an important consideration in the client/therapist relationship and as part of an integrated treatment plan. It will examine how trauma, substance abuse, socioeconomic, and multicultural issues affect treatment, access to medications, and therapeutic support. Ethical and legal guidelines will also be addressed. 

Course Prerequisites 

Satisfactory completion of:

  • HR 5003 - Theoretical Foundations in Human Relations Counseling / HR 5533 - Counseling Theories in CMHC
  • HR 5402 - Psycho-Social Development / HR 5923 - Human Growth & Development
  • HR 5883 - Introduction to the Counseling Profession
  • HR 5483 - Diagnosis in Human Relations Counseling
  • HR 5453 - Ethics in Human Relations Counseling
  • HR 5643 - Crisis Intervention / Crisis Intervention and Trauma Counseling

Course Materials

Required Textbooks:

  • Preston, J., & Johnson, J. (2024). Clinical pharmacology made ridiculously simple, 10th Edition. MedMaster.
  • Sinacola, R., Peters-Strickland, T., Wyner, J. (2020). Basic Psychopharmacology for Mental Health Professionals. (3rd Edition).

Recommended (not required):

  • Stahl, S. (2021). Stahl's essential psychopharmacology: neuroscientific basis and practical applications. Cambridge University Press.
  • Inaba, D. S., & Cohen, W. E. (2014). Uppers, Downers, and All Arounders, Medford, Oregon: CNS Productions.
  • Cozolino, L. (2017). The neuroscience of psychotherapy: Healing the social brain. WW Norton & Company.

Methods of Instruction

The following will be used in the delivery of this course:

  • Independent readings
  • Lecture
  • Synchronous discussion (Live Sessions)
  • Videos 
  • Online content (Canvas)
  • Asynchronous discussion

Minimum Technology Requirements

Participating in OU Online programs requires specific technologies. To participate in class and navigate other technological requirements, you will need the following:

  • Computer with webcam
  • Microsoft Office
  • Google Chrome/Firefox
  • Reliable Internet
  • OU Email

Consider the following tips:

  • To be effective in your courses you will need regular access to a computer and a stable internet connection.
  • Although mobile devices (i.e., smart phones) are great for checking your grades or watching a video, OU does not recommend relying on them as your primary method for taking a course online or face to face.
  • Many times, professors will add course media and assignment drop boxes to Canvas and you need reliable access.
  • Computer labs are available on campus in the OU library and rooms can be reserved for privacy.
    • Most town libraries will also have access to technology labs in your hometown.
  • You can watch and participate in online courses on your smartphone, but it may make reading the PDFs provided more difficult. We recommend a larger device to access online course content.
  • Weather, or shelter-in-place mandates may require at home access to technology. Weather may be unpredictable and can cause alternate sources of class time such as an online zoom meeting. Accessing a webcam and microphone is important.
  • Online courses typically have opportunities for students to use audio/video to submit assignments or participate in activities. These accessories will increase course interactivity and can connect you to your instructors as well as your fellow classmates.

For more support contact the OU Instructional Technology Service Portal

You are expected to:

  • Check your OU email daily and OU Canvas for updates on classes.
  • Use word processing programs such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs for assignments.
  • Send or receive email attachments and communicate with your instructor or advisor.
  • Search databases for research in the library resources.

Learning Outcomes & CACREP Standards

Psychopharmacology

Course Learning Outcomes and CACREP standards are listed in the table below
Learning Outcome CACREP Standard
Theories and neurobiological etiology of addictions 3.C.5
Biological, neurological, and physiological factors that affect lifespan development, functioning, behavior, resilience, and overall wellness  3.C.10
Classification, effects, and indications of commonly prescribed psychopharmacological medications  3.E.18
Diagnostic processes, including differential diagnosis and the use of current diagnostic classification systems  3.G.11
Procedures to identify substance use, addictions, and co-occurring conditions 3.G.12

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Track

Course Learning Outcomes and CACREP standards are listed in the table below
Learning Outcome CACREP Standard

Etiology, nomenclature, diagnosis, treatment, referral, and prevention of mental, behavioral, and neurodevelopmental disorders

 5.C.1

Strategies to advocate for people with mental, behavioral, and neurodevelopmental conditions  

 5.C.8

Grades

Breakdown

Course activities and grades listed for each activity
Activity CACREP Standards Description Percentage
Live Sessions 3.C.5, 3.C.10, 3.E.18, 3.G.11, 3.G12, 5.C.1, 5.C.8 Weekly Synchronous meetings online via Zoom 10%
Discussions 3.C.5, 3.C.10, 3.E.18, 3.G.11, 3.G12, 5.C.1, 5.C.8 Weekly discussion board activity 25%
Research Paper 3.E.18, 5.C.1, 5.C.8 Written assignment 35%
Midterm Exam 3.C.5, 3.C.10, 3.E.18, 3.G.11, 3.G12, 5.C.1, 5.C.8 Multiple-choice and essay exam 30%
Total  100%

*Indicates Key Performance Indicator (KPI). This is an intentional formative assessment to assure you take away the core information necessary to be a successful professional counselor.

Grading Scale

Grade Scale
Percentage Letter Grade
90–100% A
80–89% B
70–79% C
60–69% D
Below 60% F

Course Components

Weekly Live Sessions

There will be eight Live Sessions (10 points each). The primary purpose of these Live Sessions is to build an online community of learners.

Points will be given each week for attending the Live Sessions.

  • Attendance/participation in the Live Session is part of the grade mix.
  • If you are unable to attend in real-time, be sure to watch the recording, summarize it, and turn that summary in on the Live Session page to earn points. 

Discussion Board Participation

There will be eight threaded discussion topic assignments (25 points each). Students will participate weekly in the online discussion board on Canvas. Questions will be based on assigned readings and a weekly update on your "Drug of Choice"

To receive full credit for a weekly discussion assignment, students must answer all the questions posed, as well as comment on the response of at least two other classmates for each question posted.

Each student will complete an original post on the given topic by 11:59 p.m. Central on Tuesday, then reply to at least two classmates' posts.

Replies are due by Sunday at 11:59 p.m. Central each week. Replies should be respectful and insightful. 

 Midterm Exam

There is one required exam midway through the course. This exam is worth 30% of the final course grade.

  • Use of books, notes, and any other resources is allowed.
  • This is not a timed exam. However, responses must be submitted by the due date.

 Research Paper

There is one required written paper assignment in this course. The paper is worth 35% of the total course grade.

Formatting of the paper must:

  • Follow guidelines in the 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual (APA, 2020).
  • Include scholarly references (professional journal articles and texts) and citations using APA format to support your work.

The length of the paper must be 5-7 pages, not including the cover page and references.

Course Policies

Communication 

Email is my preferred way of communication. I will reply within 24 hours Monday through Fridays. Emails received over the weekend will be responded to within 48 hours.
Addressing me as Dr. B or Katie is just fine! I know my last name has way too many vowels and I never want that to prevent someone from asking a question!
I view my role as an educator as an informed guide. The field is always changing and, while I may have been a practicing counselor longer, there is so much to discover and learn that partnering with you in your education is a privilege. 

Feedback 

I aim to be quick in my feedback and grading. A one-week turnaround is usual on assignments unless extenuating circumstances occur. Any delay will be communicated to the class.

Late Policy

I do not accept late work, so please be mindful of due dates and times in Canvas.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

per CACREP Standards 1.I. & 1.M.8

The OU CMHC program fosters a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment. Our OU Human Relations faculty and students are diverse in their cultures and beliefs. Throughout the OU environment, including the CMHC program, we uphold the pillars of awareness, education, and advocacy. We critically examine campus climate with its biases, assumptions, institutional structure, and worldviews. We strive together to mitigate inequities, to grow intellectually and personally through meaningful diversity interactions, conscious conversations, and meaningful experiences. We work to reduce barriers, to promote conscious civil conversations, and to help all contribute as individuals, community members, and professionals in preparing our students to compete in a diverse, global, and integrated world.

As faculty of the CMHC program and mental health professionals, we strive to uphold ACA ethical guidelines important to the counseling profession in addition to the OU values of empathy, accountability, civil dialogue, collaboration, equity, integrity, and mutual respect. The goal of the CMHC program is to engage, serve and yield qualified and diverse students, equipping them with the tools needed to serve, educate, and empower our diverse communities.

Plagiarism 

Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is basically no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding in the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words generated (not simply found) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism. 

For more information about plagiarism, watch this video and then take this short course offered by University Libraries.

University Academic Policies and Student Support

Access the University Academic Policies Document.

Course Summary:

Course Summary
Date Details Due