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Unit of study_

PHAR3820: Neurology and Mental Health

Semester 2b, 2021 [Normal day] - Remote

This unit of study will cover the therapeutics of neurological and mental disorders including the pharmaceutical sciences that underpin such drug therapies. This unit will also include the epidemiology, pathophysiology and clinical features of neurological disorders. Through case­based learning, students will participate in the interpretation, application and dissemination of pharmaceutical and pharmacotherapeutic concepts and knowledge. On completion of this unit of study, students will be able to apply an understanding of the pharmaceutical sciences to optimise the drug and non­drug therapy of patients with neurological and mental disorders. Interprofessional communication and the application of specialist knowledge to implementing pharmacist cognitive services such as clinical interventions and/or medication management review will also be explored. Students will become familiar with drug information software and a range of computerised drug information databases. Role­plays will be used to develop students' communication skills for interaction between pharmacists and other health care professionals, doctors, as well as, patients and their carers.

Unit details and rules

Unit code PHAR3820
Academic unit Pharmacy
Credit points 10
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
(BIOL1XX8 or BIOL1XX3) and (CHEM1611 or CHEM11X2 or CHEM19X2 or CHEM1904) and (CHEM1612 or CHEM11X1 or CHEM19X1 or CHEM1903) and (BIOL1XX7 or MBLG1XX1) and PHAR1811 and PHAR1812 and PHAR1821 and PHAR1822 and PCOL2605 and PHAR2811 and PHAR2812 and PHAR2813 and PHAR2821 and PHAR2822 and PHAR2823 and PHSI2601
Corequisites
? 
PHAR3825 and PHAR3826 and PHAR3827 and PHAR3100
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Sarira El-Den, sarira.el-den@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Sarira El-Den, sarira.el-den@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Record+) Type B final exam hurdle task Final exam
A mixture of Multiple Choice and Short Answer Questions.
70% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6 LO7
Oral exam
? 
hurdle task
Objective structured clinical examination
Oral examination
20% Formal exam period 1.5 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Participation hurdle task Tutorials
Pre-work, participation and professional conduct
10% Ongoing 20 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
hurdle task = hurdle task ?
Type B final exam = Type B final exam ?

Assessment summary

Participation: The tutorials are designed to help students integrate and apply the knowledge and skills acquired in lectures, in the management of patients’ health needs and problems, and other clinical issues they are likely to encounter as a practicing pharmacist. The tutorials will emphasise the application of ‘processes’ in practicing as a pharmacist, especially communication processes incorporating information
gathering, information processing, and information delivery.
Exam: This examination will be based on lecture and tutorial material from the Neurology and Mental Health unit of study. The exam will comprise multiple-choice and short-answer questions. 
OSCE: The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) has three stations. Each student will be given topics, with time to prepare. After the preparation time, each student will discuss assigned topics, and
the issues and concerns raised when reviewing the topic, at three closed book stations, with a pseudo-doctor (who is also the examiner), a pseudo-patient (who is also the examiner), and a pharmacy colleague
(who is also the examiner). 

All assessment components must be passed (ie 50%) to satisfy the requirements of the unit of study. Failing a compulsory assessment will result in an overall fail (45 FA) for this unit of study.
Repeating Students: Exemption from components for students repeating PHAR3820 will not be granted.
Supplementary Yr assessments: Students may be offered re-assessment of compulsory-to-pass assessments as described in the relevant local provisions. For more information see:
BPharm https://www.sydney.edu.au/policies/showdoc.aspx?recnum=PDOC2019/498&RendNum=0
Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

At HD level, a student demonstrates an aptitude for the subject and a well-developed understanding of the unit material. A ‘High Distinction’ reflects exceptional achievement and is awarded to students who demonstrate the ability to apply their subject knowledge and understanding to produce original solutions for novel or highly complex problems and/or comprehensive critical discussions of theoretical concepts.

Distinction

75 - 84

At DI level, a student demonstrates an aptitude for the subject and a well-developed understanding of the units material. A ‘Distinction’ reflects excellent achievement and is awarded to a student who demonstrates an ability to apply their subject knowledge and understanding of the subject to produce good solutions for challenging problems and/or a reasonably well-developed critical analysis of theoretical concepts.

Credit

65 - 74

At CR level, a student demonstrates a good command and knowledge of the unit material. A ‘Credit’ reflects solid achievement and is awarded to a student who has a broad general understanding of the units material and can solve routine problems and/ or identify and superficially discuss theoretical concepts.

Pass

50 - 64

At PS level, a student demonstrates proficiency in the material. A ‘Pass’ reflects satisfactory adequately referencing the original source of the work.

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

All 10 tutorials make up 10% of the Unit of Study Mark. Hence, each tutorial is worth 1%. Tutorial marks (1%) will be deducted if pre-work is submitted late.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Multiple weeks Migraine and epilepsy Tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Depression and anxiety Tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Parkinson’s disease Tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Schizophrenia Tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
A broad range of lecture topics will be delivered. Topics include: Depression; Anxiety, Bipolar disorder; Schizophrenia; Epilepsy; Alzheimer's disease; Dementia; Parkinson’s disease; Drugs of addiction; Drug and alcohol disorders; Multiple sclerosis; Sleep disorders; ADHD; Smoking cessation. Lecture (52 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Please select a valid week from the list below Students will be required to undertake approximately 50-100 hours of self-directed learning (e.g. completing pre-work, revising tutorial and lecture content). Independent study (75 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 11 Mental health consumer educator tutorial Tutorial (2 hr) LO5 LO8
Alzheimer’s disease Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: 

In accordance with the Bachelor of Pharmacy and Pharmacy Mangement Course resolutions on Attendance Requirements, students must attend a minimum of 80% tutorials (4 of 5 classes) to satisfy attendance requirements for this unit of study. For more information see: 

https://www.sydney.edu.au/handbooks/medicine_health/coursework/pharmacy_rules.shtml 

If a tutorial is missed due to illness or misadventure, students are to submit a special consideration application along with supporting documentation.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 10 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 200-250 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library Reading List, available on Canvas.

  • Australian Medicines Handbook. Current edition. Print and online.
  • eTG Complete . North Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Ltd., 2002. Print and online.
  • Roche, Victoria F. et al. Foye’s Principles of Medicinal Chemistry . Eighth edition. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer, 2020. Print.
  • Ritter, James M et al. Rang and Dale’s Pharmacology E-Book. Philadelphia: Elsevier, 2018. Print.
  • Whittlesea, Cate, and Karen Hodson. Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics . Sixth edition. Oxford: Elsevier, 2019. Print.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Demonstrate an understanding of the epidemiology and pathophysiology associated with mental health and neurological disorders
  • LO2. Identify the most appropriate evidence-based treatments and the appropriate advice and counselling to patients living with mental health and neurological disorders
  • LO3. Demonstrate an understanding of the chemistry and pharmacology that forms the basis of structure-activity relationships, drug-drug interactions and drug design of medicines used for mental health and neurological disorders
  • LO4. Identify and manage medication-related adverse events and provide appropriate advice/counselling to health care professionals (HCPs) or patients living with mental health and neurological disorders
  • LO5. Communicate effectively and ethically with patients, their families and HCPs about the optimal management of mental health and neurological disorders
  • LO6. Identify and utilise appropriate resources that are used to form the basis for decisions on which medicines and services are recommended to patients and other HCPs
  • LO7. Critically examine scientific evidence, both quantitative and qualitative, in order to arrive at evidence-based conclusions
  • LO8. Work effectively and cooperatively as a member of a learning team

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Lectures will be rearranged to be delivered as close as possible to associated tutorials. OSCE video examples and practice role-play scenarios will be provided during tutorials.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.