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PA30324: Specialised integrated unit 5: neurology & mental health

[Page last updated: 18 October 2021]

Academic Year: 2021/2
Owning Department/School: Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology
Credits: 12 [equivalent to 24 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 240
Level: Honours (FHEQ level 6)
Period:
Semester 1
Assessment Summary: CW 50%, EX 50%
Assessment Detail:
  • CLIP Coursework (CW 16% - Qualifying Mark: 40)
  • Critical appraisal task (CW 17% - Qualifying Mark: 40)
  • Problem-based learning (CW 17% - Qualifying Mark: 40)
  • Examination (EX 50% - Qualifying Mark: 40)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites: While taking this module you must take PA30325 AND take PA30326 AND take PA30327 AND take PA30328
Aims: To provide a comprehensive, integrated understanding of the design and development of medicines, their pharmacological actions in the body and the evidence-based approach to treatment of patients with the aim of promoting safe and effective outcomes in neurology and mental health.

Learning Outcomes: After successfully completing this unit, the student pharmacist will be able to:
1. Describe the aetiology, epidemiology, pathophysiology and clinical symptoms of major neurological disease and mental health disorders and how they are diagnosed and treated.
2. Explain the pharmacology and mechanisms of action of medicines used for the treatment of neurological and mental health disorders and be able to critically evaluate structure-activity relationships, dose-response relationships and biomarkers of treatment and clinical outcomes
3. Describe the key biopharmaceutical (formulation and pharmacokinetic) factors that determine the performance of medicines used to treat neurological and mental health disorders
4. Identify and critically evaluate evidence-based approaches for the management of patients with neurological and mental health disorders.
5. Describe the role of the pharmacist in prescribing, administering and monitoring medication for patients with neurological and mental health disorders.
6. Make appropriate clinical decisions in support of patients with neurological and mental health disorders.
7. Apply complex structured consultation skills to the conditions studied in this unit
8.Reflect on their own practice in supporting patients with these diseases carers, and other healthcare professionals and identify areas for continuous improvement.

Skills: Scientific and practical skills (T/F/A)
Study skills, handling information, working with others (T/F)
Problem solving (T/F/A)
Study skills (T/F)
Handling information (T/F/A)
Written communication (T/F/A)
Scientific & practical skills (T/F/A)
Information & communication technology (ICT) (T/F)

Content: Content to include:
Clinical Introduction and overview of therapeutic area - Problem-based learning case
* Pharmaceutics theme
- Transdermal and controlled drug delivery, implantable devices
- Blood brain barrier distribution and other biopharmaceutics factors relevant to the therapeutic area.
- Rate control processes in pharmacokinetics. Effect of physiological and disease factor on performance of oral formulations
- Pharmacokinetics of prodrugs
* Pharmacology theme
- Neurotransmitters
- Analgesics
- Cannabinoids
- Centrally acting anti-obesity agents
* Medicinal chemistry and drug design theme
- Design and development of drugs for treating neurological and mental health disorders
* Clinical therapeutics theme
- Strategies in pain management
- Headache and migraine
- Stroke
- Epilepsy
- Motor disorders - Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, myasthenia gravis
- Anxiety
- Sleep and hypnotics
- Depression
- Psychosis, Schizophrenia, Bipolar disorder
- Memory & Alzheimer's disease
- Anorexia and other eating disorders
* Consent and capacity in neurological and mental health disorders
* Recognising mental health symptoms
* The principles of talking therapies, mindfulness and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
* The role of community mental health teams
* Clinical decision-making in neurology and mental health
* Simulation and practice-based learning in neurology and mental health
* CNS research showcase

Description: Aims:
To provide a comprehensive, integrated understanding of the design and development of medicines, their pharmacological actions in the body and the evidence-based approach to treatment of patients with the aim of promoting safe and effective outcomes in neurology and mental health.

Learning Outcomes:
After successfully completing this unit, the student pharmacist will be able to:
1. Describe the aetiology, epidemiology, pathophysiology and clinical symptoms of major neurological disease and mental health disorders and how they are diagnosed and treated.
2. Explain the pharmacology and mechanisms of action of medicines used for the treatment of neurological and mental health disorders and be able to critically evaluate structure-activity relationships, dose-response relationships and biomarkers of treatment and clinical outcomes
3. Describe the key biopharmaceutical (formulation and pharmacokinetic) factors that determine the performance of medicines used to treat neurological and mental health disorders
4. Identify and critically evaluate evidence-based approaches for the management of patients with neurological and mental health disorders.
5. Describe the role of the pharmacist in prescribing, administering and monitoring medication for patients with neurological and mental health disorders.
6. Make appropriate clinical decisions in support of patients with neurological and mental health disorders.
7. Apply complex structured consultation skills to the conditions studied in this unit
8.Reflect on their own practice in supporting patients with these diseases carers, and other healthcare professionals and identify areas for continuous improvement.

Skills:
Scientific and practical skills (T/F/A)
Study skills, handling information, working with others (T/F)
Problem solving (T/F/A)
Study skills (T/F)
Handling information (T/F/A)
Written communication (T/F/A)
Scientific & practical skills (T/F/A)
Information & communication technology (ICT) (T/F)

Content:
Content to include:
Clinical Introduction and overview of therapeutic area - Problem-based learning case
* Pharmaceutics theme
- Transdermal and controlled drug delivery, implantable devices
- Blood brain barrier distribution and other biopharmaceutics factors relevant to the therapeutic area.
- Rate control processes in pharmacokinetics. Effect of physiological and disease factor on performance of oral formulations
- Pharmacokinetics of prodrugs
* Pharmacology theme
- Neurotransmitters
- Analgesics
- Cannabinoids
- Centrally acting anti-obesity agents
* Medicinal chemistry and drug design theme
- Design and development of drugs for treating neurological and mental health disorders
* Clinical therapeutics theme
- Strategies in pain management
- Headache and migraine
- Stroke
- Epilepsy
- Motor disorders - Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, myasthenia gravis
- Anxiety
- Sleep and hypnotics
- Depression
- Psychosis, Schizophrenia, Bipolar disorder
- Memory & Alzheimer's disease
- Anorexia and other eating disorders
* Consent and capacity in neurological and mental health disorders
* Recognising mental health symptoms
* The principles of talking therapies, mindfulness and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
* The role of community mental health teams
* Clinical decision-making in neurology and mental health
* Simulation and practice-based learning in neurology and mental health
* CNS research showcase

Programme availability:

PA30324 is a Designated Essential Unit on the following programmes:

Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology
  • USPA-AFM03 : MPharm(Hons) Pharmacy (Year 3)
  • USPA-AKM03 : MPharm(Hons) Pharmacy with integrated pre-registration year (Year 3)

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2021/22 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2022/23 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2021/22.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.