(University of Galway)

Available in Windows and Web/Intranet Versions ISBN: 0 9532751 5 9
Subject Specialist: Dr. Jim O'Donnell .
Programmed by: Dr.Jim O'Donnel (Assisted by A.Halloram)
This package introduces the student to psychopharmacology. The student first learns about the neuroscientific foundation of psychopharmacology, then continues by considering some of the clinical applications of psychopharmacology, for example, the use of anxiolytics. In the final subject of the package, the student looks at research methods used in psychopharmacology, including laboratory techniques, use of animal models and some of the problems of clinical trials.



A screen from one of the activity modules.


Contents The package is divided into 3 subjects containing a total of 11 activity modules.

  1. Neuroscientific Foundation
    • Blood-Brain Barrier
    • Drug Entry Into Brain
    • Electrophysiological Mechanisms
    • Biochemical Mechanisms
  2. Clinical Applications
    • Hypnotics
    • Anxiolytics
    • Antidepresssants
    • Antipsychotics
  3. Research Methodologies
    • Laboratory Experiments
    • Animal Models
    • Clinical Studies
Neuroscientific Foundation

Blood-Brain Barrier: describes how drugs get into the brain in order to exert their actions on nerve functions.
Drug Entry Into Brain: deals with the ways that drug molecules can cross the blood-brain barrier.
Electrophysiological Mechanisms:deals with the electrophysiological aspects of psychotropic drugs.
Biochemical Mechanisms: deals with the biochemical actions of the drugs described in the clinical sections (ie hypnotics, anxiolytics, antidepressants, antipsychotics).

Clinical Applications

Hypnotics: looks at sleep and the recommended use of drugs to treat insomnia.
Anxiolytics: describes the use of drugs for the symptomatic treatment of selected forms of anxiety.
Antidepressants: deals with drugs for treatment of severe depression of mood.
Antipsychotics: looks at drugs which alleviate some of the symptoms of psychotic disorders.

Research Methodologies

Laboratory Experiments: Development of pscyhoactive drugs involves techniques of molecular biology, cytology, and immunology in addition to biochemical and electrophysiological methodologies. In this activity, a selection of “in vitro” methods is briefly described.
Animal Models: In this activity, the aims are that the student learns about the models that have been employed in the study of psychoactive drugs and about the limitations of animal models.
Clinical Studies: describes some of the problems in clinical trials of psychopharmacological drugs, and the recommended ways of dealing with those problems.

Hardware and Software Requirements

Windows Version
The package is supplied on a CD-ROM Installation Disc and can be installed to a local hard disc or network drive. The minimum requirement is a PC with 100MHz Pentium processor , 8Mb of RAM and a VGA monitor capable of displaying 16-bit color (65, 536 colors) at 640 x 480 resolution. The program is 32-bit and is compatible with Windows 95, 98 and NT.
Web Version
The package is supplied on a CD-ROM Installation Disc for installation to a web server. The software runs on PC clients only. The minimum requirement is a 200MHz Pentium processor with 32Mb of RAM and a Super VGA monitor capable of displaying 16-bit color (65,536 colors) at 800 x 600 resolution. The program is compatible with both Netscape Navigator 4.x and Internet Explorer 4 or better and requires Java and Javascript to be enabled on browsers.