Neuroscience-based nomenclature as a teaching tool, introduction and pilot study

Neuroscience-based nomenclature (NbN) is a pharmacologically-driven nomenclature aiming to replace the current disease-based nomenclature of psychotropics, focusing on pharmacology and mode-of-action to encourage scientifically-minded prescribing. NbN might also be used as a teaching tool as it presents the depth and richness of the neuroscience of psychotropics. This study examines the effect of using NbN in student curriculum. Fifty-six medical students during clerkship in psychiatry, divided into a control group ( n  = 20), taught standard psychopharmacology, and an intervention group ( n  = 36) introduced with NbN. Both groups filled out identical questionnaires at the beginning and end of the clerkship, including questions of knowledge on psychopharmacology, views on current terminology and interest in psychiatric residency. Comparing the average change in scorings (delta post-pre) for each item in intervention vs. control questionnaires, the intervention group showed a significantly larger positive delta in 6 out of 10 items than the control group. Mean scores did not differ significantly between the two groups in the pre-questionnaires, while significantly higher scores were shown for the intervention group in within- and between-group comparisons. Introduction of NbN was associated with a better educational experience, a deeper understanding of psychotropics and increased interest in psychiatric residency.