Psychopharmacology Course

This summer, I have been enrolled in Psychopharmacology, in order to fulfill the biological domain for my Psychology degree. While this is only an eight week course, the knowledge I have acquired is similar as to attending an in-person, sixteen week course.

While I was hesitant to take this course due to the biological roots of pharmacology, I found my footing and quickly became absorbed by the various drug mechanisms and learning about the history and progression of substances.

I especially excelled in the unit on antipsychotics, as my natural interest in schizophrenia treatment guided my intentions. From reading autobiographies of individuals with schizophrenia recount their experiences with antipsychotics, I was eager to view these medications in a scientific manner.

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I began to more clearly picture what I want to accomplish as a clinician; to be there to help bring more balance into the lives of those diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness, specifically schizophrenia. This disorder not only comes with debilitating symptoms, but its treatment medications can come along with costly adverse effects. While I intend to align myself with directly counseling folks, I have a commitment to continually engage in research findings regarding medications that my future clients will likely be prescribed. I will have the responsibility to arm myself with evidence-based knowledge and treatments mechanisms as a clinician, despite not being the one prescribing medications.

This course has me regretting not taking any neuroscience courses in my undergraduate career, yet I hope to be granted opportunity within this field in my future work.