Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology, Unit Catalogue 2008/09 |
PA50200 Mental health |
| Credits: 6 |
| Level: Masters |
| Modular: no specific semester |
| Assessment: CW 100% |
| Requisites: |
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Aims: The aim of this unit is to update underpinning pharmacology, physiology and pharmaceutical knowledge relevant to the prescribing and care of people with the most common mental health problems. Also included will be an introduction to the mental health service arena and the role of multidisciplinary care. Also covered will be the professional, legal and ethical aspects associated with prescribing and medicines management issues in this population group.
Learning Outcomes: On completion of this unit students will be able to: 1. Have an awareness of the symptomatology and treatment of the common mental health areas (knowledge and understanding). 2. Explain how medicines used in these clinical areas work to produce their therapeutic effect (knowledge and understanding, professional practical skill). 3. Critically evaluate the medicines management issues in each of these clinical areas (intellectual skill). 4. Describe the role of the healthcare professional / pharmacist in prescribing and monitoring medication for people with mental health problems (knowledge & understanding). 5. Reflect on your own practice in prescribing and medicines management issues in the area of mental health and identify areas for continuous improvement (personal transferable skill). Skills: * Planning & organisation (Taught / Facilitated) * Handling information (Taught / Facilitated /Assessed) * Written and verbal communication (Taught / Facilitated /Assessed) * Working with others (Taught / Facilitated) * Scientific & practical skills (Taught / Facilitated /Assessed) * Improving learning & performance (Taught / Facilitated /Assessed) * Problem solving (Taught / Facilitated /Assessed). Content: * An introduction to good mental health (public health role, HoN, NSF etc) * Legislation and ethics in mental health prescribing * Anxiety and insomnia * Depression * Psychosis and schizophrenia * Bipolar disorders and mania * The dementias * Substance misuse. |