COURSE: EDCP789S Section 5890 Psychopharmacology for Counselors

INSTRUCTOR: Scott E. Borrelli, EdD, ABPP

E-mail Address: sborrell@faculty.ed.umuc.edu

Post: PSC 41, Box 2128 APO AE 09464

Tel: [44] (0) 20 8696 7661 (London)

Course Delivery Method: Distance Education (1 semester hour, graduate credit)

Dates (5 weeks): 16 April - 18 May 2001

This course will address the growing trend in mental health to prescribe psychotropic medications in conjunction with counseling and psychotherapy. Consequently, the role and responsibilities of the professional counselor have expanded, requiring familiarity with psychopharmacology and effective multi-disciplinary consultation skills. The focus of this presentation will be on providing basic knowledge of the primary psychotropic medication groups, methods of action, and their impact on individual behavior and on the counseling process. Practical suggestions will be made for integrating the concept and use of "mind-altering" prescription medications into counseling practice, emphasizing the further coming together of the mind-body principle. Client attitudes towards medication and contextual/cultural issues will be explored. Prescription and non-prescription (i.e., alternative/complementary) anti-anxiety, anti-depressant, and ADHD medications will be discussed, and a "Quick Reference to Psychotropic Medication" guide developed by John Preston, Psy.D., will be reviewed.

COURSE DELIVERY SYSTEM

The course will be delivered completely on the web via the University of Maryland's distance education system, WebTycho. The course will cover a five-week span of readings, discussion, and assignments, clearly spelled out in the online course syllabus.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

By the end of the course, students will:

1. Understand some of the important basic principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.
2. Apply basic knowledge of psychopharmacology to their assessment strategies to improve overall treatment planning.
3. Apply an increasingly multi-dimensional approach to the practice of professional counseling.

COURSE TEXT AND READINGS

Main text:

Preston, J., Talaga, M., O'Neal, J. (2000). Handbook of Clinical Psychopharmacology for Therapists (2^nd ed.). CA: New Harbinger Publications.

Additional Readings:

Ayd, Frank J. Jr. Evaluating interactions between herbal and psychoactive medications. Psychiatric Times, December 2000, Vol. XVII, Issue 12.

Thompson, Diane S. and Pollock, Bruce G. Psychotropic metabolism: gender-related issues. Psychiatric Times, January 2001, Vol. XIV, Issue 1.

Preston, John. Quick reference to psychotropic medication.

COURSE TOPICS

I. The Expanding Role of the Counselor and Mental Health Professional.

1. Counselor as generalist, specialist, and multi-disciplinary consultant.
2. Basic knowledge of psychotropic medication.
3. Aspects of consultation with the medical community - ethical and professional challenges.

II. Classes of Psychotropic Medications.

1. Prescription vs. non-prescription.
2. Anti-depressant medications.
3. Anti-anxiety medications.
4. Medications for cognitive pathology.
5. Medications for AD/HD.
6. Alternative & complimentary choices: nutritional Supplements and herbal Remedies.

III. Methods of Action of Classes of Psychotropics.

1. The big three neurotransmitters.
2. Serotonin and mood.
3. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

IV. Impact of Medication

1. On client functioning.
2. On the counseling process.
3. Utilizing the placebo effect & facilitating client self-reliance: hope, positive expectation, & therapeutic support.

V. Integrating Psychotropic Medication into the Counseling Practice.

1. Making confident and competent referrals for medication evaluation.
2. Guidelines for discussing medication issues with clients and other professionals.
3. Cross-cultural and gender issues.
4. Increasing the counselor's acceptance of medication as part of the overall intervention plan.

6. Special Topics

1. Gerontological pharmacotherapy.
2. Child pharmacotherapy.
3. Drug interactions: herbal and psychoactive.
4. Multicultural & gender issues: metabolism differences

Course Requirements:

Weekly discussion topics will be presented related to the readings and syllabus items. Each student will be expected to complete the weekly readings, and respond substantively to the related discussion question. Additionally, each student will respond to at least two other students and their weekly comments, in an effort to generate useful discussion. A final paper, due at the end of the term, will focus on a particular area of interest in psychopharmacology. The paper might be an extensive literature review on a special topic, a program development proposal, or any other topic approved by the Instructor.

Course Grading

Weekly Readings, Participation, and Discussion: 50%.

Course Paper: 50%.

Instructor Biography

Dr. Scott Borrelli is a licensed and board certified counseling and clinical psychologist, a National Certified Counselor, and a chartered psychologist in the UK. He is on the faculty of the University of Maryland's graduate program in counseling. His orientation as counselor educator and practitioner is integrative-humanistic, and he is eager to facilitate client mental health through a variety of individually tailored interventions. He is board certified in clinical hypnotherapy, and also in psychopharmacology by the International College of Prescribing Psychologists. Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, he now lives in London.

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