Mental health is a complex topic at the intersection of several disciplines and professions, including psychology, psychiatry, neurobiology, and counseling. Hence, our attempts at understanding it ought to be multi-angled and holistic. In Biological Psychiatry, we will focus on exploring how the brain regulates complex behaviors and how its malfunctioning can give rise to mental health issues and disorders. We will particularly focus on understanding the variety of symptoms of mental health issues/discorders, their biological and psychological causes, current research methodologies, and potential psychiatric therapeutic interventions. The materials presented will come from key contemporary studies. Although focused on neuropsychiatry, we will also explore a variety of common neuroscience techniques, including animal models, neuronal recordings and manipulations, brain imaging, and gene expression. Particularly, we will learn to interpret results and critically evaluate the conclusions drawn.

Class 1: Stigmata of Cuckoo’s Nest: Chronicles of Psychiatry and Its Failures
Class 2: Decoding the Brain: Neuropsychiatry Methods and Approaches
Class 3: Blue Devils: Depressive and Mood Disorders
Class 4: A Bundle of Nerves: Anxiety Disorders
Class 5: The Shining of a Beautiful Mind: Psychosis and Schizophrenia
Class 6: The High and the Low: Addictive disorders

The overall aim of the course is to provide an introduction to the complexity of mental disorders and foster an attitude of care and practical understanding. The course is especially beneficial for those interested in abnormal psychology, neuroscience, the brain-mind relationship, and multidisciplinary biological research.

Requirements: enthusiasm
Helpful but not necessary: basic biology and psychology
Desirable: basic statistics