Cipher: 2603
Nomenclature: Molecular biology of psychological disorders
Study programme: Molecular biosciences
Module: Biomedicine
Case holder:

Assoc. prof.dr. sc. Dubravka Švob Štrac, higher zn. Associate
Institution of the case holder:

Ruđer Boskovic Institute
Contributors - Contractors:

Title doc. Dr. Sc. Gordana Nedić Erjavec, zn. Associate
Title doc. Dr. Sc. Matea Nikolac Perković, zn. Associate
Subject status: Electoral College
The year in which the case is submitted: Year I
The semester in which the case is submitted: Semester II
Subject objective:

Understand the etiology and biochemical basis of mental disorders as well as the basics of molecular biology in psychological disorders. To know the latest developments in the association of genetic changes with etiology and the treatment of psychological disorders.
Case contents:

Etiopathogenesis and diagnosis of depression (unipolar and bipolar), schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, post-traumatic stress disorder and behavioral and addiction disorders. Transmission of nerve stimuli. Neurotransmitters. The role of neurotransmitters in the etiology of psychological disorders. Peripheral biochemical indicators. The fundamental principles of molecular diagnostics. Polymorphisms of gene promoters for the proteins responsible for the synthesis of catecholamines (tyrosine hydroxylase, dopamine-beta hydroxylase), serotonin (tryptophan hydroxylase), active intake of neurotransmitters (catecholaminergic and serotonin transporter), breakdown of neurotransmitters (monoamineoxidase A and B, catechhol-O-methyltransferase), and receptors (catecholaminergic and serotonergic). Psychopharmacogenics. Genetic basis and success of treatment with psychotropic drugs.
Exercises isolation of DNA from full blood, multiplication of DNA (polymerase chain reaction, PCR reaction), electrophoresis of PCR products. Determination of the frequency of each allele and genotype.
Final seminar: critical analysis of one scientific article in the field of subjects ("journal club")
Learning outcomes: competences, knowledge, skills that the subject develops:

1. Explain the basics of the molecular background of neuropsychiatric disorders.
2. Analyse the importance of pharmacogenetic research.
3. Identify the neurobiological background of schizophrenia, depression, PTSD, Alzheimer's disease, alcoholism, ADHD and feeding and behavioral disorders.
4. Explain what are biomarkers of the disease or biomarkers of the response to the drug.
5. Propose research to determine the biological basis for the development of mental disorders on the basis of relevant sources and data from the field of biological psychiatry.
ECTS Credits 4
Lectures 5
Seminars (IS) 5
Exercises (E) 10
Altogether 20
The way of teaching and acquiring knowledge:

Regular attendance, justified absence of up to 2 hours of classes.
Ways of teaching and acquiring knowledge: (notes)
Monitoring and evaluating students (mark in fat printing only relevant categories) Attendance, Teaching activities
Rating method: Written exam, Analysis of published publication
Mandatory literature:

Bertram L, Tanzi RE. The current status of Alzheimer's disease genetics: what do we tell the patients? Pharmacological Research, 50:385-396, 2004.

Serretti A, Lilli R, Smeraldi E. Pharmacogenetics in affective disorders. Eur J Pharmacology, 438:117-128, 2002.
Bray NJ, Leweke FM, Kapur S, Meyer-Lindenberg A (2010) The neurobiology of schizophrenia: new leads and avenues for treatment. Current Opinion in Neurobiology 20:810-815.

And Gururajan, G Clarke, TG. Dinan, JF Cryan (2016) Molecular biomarkers of depression. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews 64:101–133.

J Folch, D Petrov, M Ettcheto, S Abad, E Sánchez-López, ML García, et al. (2016) Current Research Therapeutic Strategies for Alzheimer's Disease Treatment. Neural Plasticity, 2016, Article ID 8501693.doi.org/10.1155/2016/8501693

D F Levey, H Le-Niculescu, J Frank, M Ayalew, N Jain, B Kirlin, et al. (2014) Genetic risk prediction and neurobiological understanding of alcoholism. Translational Psychiatry 4, e391; doi:10.1038/tp.2014.29.

P McGowan, M Szyf (2010) The epigenetics of social adversity in early life: Implications for mental health outcomes. Neurobiology of Disease 39: 66-72.

V Michopoulos, SD Norrholm, T Jovanovic (2015) Diagnostic Biomarkers for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Promising Horizons from Translational Neuroscience Research. Biol. Psychiatry 78: 344-353.

M L Pfau, S J Russo (2015) Peripheral and central mechanisms of stress resilience. Neurobiology of Stress 1: 66-79.

ND Volkow, GF Koob, AT McLellan (2016) Neurobiologic Advances from the Brain Disease Model of Addiction. Neurobiologic Advances from the Brain Disease Model of Addiction. N Engl J Med 374:363-71.

PR Zoladz, DM Diamond (2013) Current status on behavioral and biological markers of PTSD: a search for clarity in a conflicting literature. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews 37, 860-895.
Supplementary (recommended) literature:

J Volavka (2014) Aggression in Psychoses. Advances in Psychiatry 2014: Article ID 196281, doi.org/10.1155/2014/196281

M Soyka (2011) Neurobiology of Aggression and Violence in Schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin 37:p. 913–920.

DR Rosell, LJ Siever (2015) The neurobiology of aggression and violence. CNS Spectrums, 2015: doi:10.1017/S109285291500019X

BS McEwen, JD Gray, C Nasca (2015) Recognizing resilience: Learning from the effects of stress on the brain. Neurobiology of Stress 1: 1-11

Heim C, Nemeroff CB (2009) Neurobiology of Stress. CNS Spectrum 2:13-24 p.m.
How to monitor the quality and performance performance (evaluation):

Discussion with students and colleagues
The success of the course will be evaluated annually by the joint expert committee of the Rudjer Boskovic Institute, the University of Dubrovnik and the University of Osijek