CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY: PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY

Psychopharmacology: The Use of Medication for Mental Health Conditions

Conditions include those infamous ones: depression and anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and many other different yet similar forms which turn the life of millions around the world into a true living hell. Most realistic and severe forms of mental illness-which anybody can genuinely face-are candidly speaking those for which assistance, therapies, and changing-of-life approaches provide respite in amalgamation, First and foremost, this is the medication. "Psychopharmacology illustrates the interaction of medicine with the brain, hence the said is a study dealing with the effects on behavioral mental health.".

In this blog, learn more about psychopharmacology, how medications work in the brain, types of drugs used to treat mental health disorders, effectiveness, and possible side effects.

What Is Psychopharmacology?

The most quoted definition is that psychopharmacology is "the study of actions induced by active drugs on the mind, emotions and behaviors." Psychopharmacology defines how various forms of medications briefly altered the chemistry of the brain and thereby affected mental status. Psychopharmacology considers how medications may alleviate symptoms of psychological disorders through their action on parts of the brain regulating functions controlling mood, cognition, and behavior.

Most psychotherapeutic medications work by either increasing or decreasing the levels of certain neurotransmitters-chemical messengers in the brain-that appear to be out of balance in people with mental illness. Such medications may take forms such as pills, liquids, injections, or patches-whichever is most appropriate for the patient.

The Role of Medications in Mental Health Treatment.

Again, though of importance in themselves, the symptoms at least could be kept at bay and better relieved with use of medications rather than counseling and therapies alone for graver and more chronic disorders. Overall, psychiatric medications strive to lead to normalization of mood as well as a decrease of anxiety apart from management of symptoms of psychosis among such affected and thereby to better quality of life.

Their potency also varies from one drug to another and sometimes even for the very same ailment they are trying to cure. In many patients a couple of them exert their symptom improving effects within a pretty short period of time whereas in others, it may take a couple of days. Sometimes, even their side effects owing to drugs used for psychiatric disorders need a modification either in amount or type.

Classes of Medications Used in Psychopharmacology

The classes of medications useful in psychopharmacology treatment have so many times been described as treatments of the mental disorders. Overall class overviews of several common medications which may get prescribed are found below.

1. Antidepressants

The major indications of antidepressants include major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and some disorders of post-traumatic stress. Antidepressants re-establish the normal level and balance of neurotransmitters within the brain. Neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine are several of the key players to express a very important function towards maintaining mood regulation. And in consequence disturbances take one to mood disorders.

Types of antidepressants involves:

• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs): This is most important class of medications generally used because they elevate serotonin brain set. Examples of SSRI Include fluoxetine, sertraline and escitalopram.
• Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRIs): They raise both neuro-transmitter- serotonin as well as epinephrine in the brain as well as found their usefulness in handling depression anxiety: examples include venlafaxine and duloxetine.
• Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs): This class contains the older drugs of antidepressants. They do happen to be more closely related with the effects one experiences as side effects and majorly when compared with the new antidepressants. It has drug examples such as Amitriptyline and Nortriptyline.
• Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs): These are usually the last due to the dietary restrictions besides possible side effects associated with neurotransmitter breakdown inhibition processes that include serotonin as well as dopamine.

2. Antipsychotics:

Antipsychotic medications are primarily for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder although they may occasionally also be of use for very bad states of depression and anxiety that resist easier treatments. Symptoms include delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thought and are addressed by modification of dopamine and other levels of neurotransmitters in the brain.

Examples of antipsychotic medications include:

• Antipsychotics: Typical and atypical are two main classes of this antipsychotic medication. Atypical antipsychotics include such medications as olanzapine (Zyprexa), risperidone (Risperdal) and quetiapine (Seroquel). These are the ones most prescribed due to its comparatively milder side effects regarding previous generations of antipsychotic.
• Typical antipsychotics: These include such medication as Haloperidol (Haldol) and chlorpromazine. Although effective there is more associated with severe chances of side effects leading from sedation or even motor ailments.

3.Mood Stabilizers

The other class of prescribed medications for bipolar disorder are the mood stabilizers. They prevent or lessen the severeness of the mood swings. They level an individual's mood between states of mania and depression. The common mood stabilizers include but not limited to are lithium, anticonvulsant drugs such as but not limited to valproic acid also known as Depakote and lamotrigine also known as Lamictal.

4. Anti-anxiety Medications

Anti-anxiety medications are usually indicated for symptomatic treatment in GAD, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder. Anti-anxiety medication has symptomatic treatment of short duration in the symptoms of anxiety and stress.

Common anti-anxiety medications include:

• Benzodiazepines: Medication included in this category involves a drug such as diazepam commonly called Valium, Lorazepam commonly called Ativan, alprazolam commonly called Xanax. They depress the central nervous system and act by relaxing.
• Buspirone: Non-benzodiazepine medication used in treating anxiety disorders and is considered non-addictive compared to benzodiazepines.

5. Stimulants

Stimulant medications are generally prescribed for ADD (attention-deficit disorder) and narcolepsy. With this medication, the level of norepinephrine and dopamine is increased so one is better able to focus and pay attention as well as curbing impulses easily.

Examples of stimulants include:

• Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta)
• Amphetamines (Adderall, Dexedrine)

6. Sleep Aids and Sedatives

The administration of medication can restore normal sleep to the insomnia suffering person and to individuals with all the other forms of sleeping disorders. Medications referred to as sleep inducers, are related bringing forth or inducing relaxation for sleep.

Common sleep aids include:

• Benzodiazepines: Previously discussed agents which, amongst others may be used in the induction of sleep.
• Non-benzodiazepine sleep medications: Ambien (zolpidem) and Lunesta (eszopiclone), in short-term use for most people taking these medications are considered to be safer to use.

Effectiveness of Psychopharmacological Treatment

Although medications may clearly reduce or even eliminate symptoms for many disorders, they are not themselves a "cure." For many people, medications may need to be adjusted over time to get the right balance. Many mental health conditions also benefit from a combination of medication and therapy.

These intermingle with the success of the psychopharmacological therapy from life history and behavior along with genetics, the heaviness of the condition in terms of severity, and even down to specific individual brain response to given medication.

Side Effects and Risks of Psychotropic Medications

Undesirable symptoms from medications cannot be completely removed. As far as classes of medication are though concerned, a form is dictated along with dosing; vulnerable people are dictated. Some commons possible include dizziness, increase in weight, sexual dysfunction, nausea, and sedation".

These side effects usually disappear after some time as the body gets used to it, but when very severe and of long duration, these patients should call their health care provider to discuss changing drugs or adjusting dosages.

Some medications, like benzodiazepines and some antidepressants, are addictive or have withdrawal effects if not taken exactly as prescribed or abruptly stopped.

Conclusion: The Importance of Medication in Mental Health Care.

Symptom treatment has been one major symptom treatment in the mental health arena using major psychopharmacology to reduce symptoms over the past couple of decades. This usually is a huge reliever for many people who have to manage their symptoms hence an improvement in the quality of life. However, it is part of an entire package that is since it is supposed to be for treatment; coupled with therapy, a change in lifestyle and surroundings makes it far effective.

Far more importantly, of course, each variant in these disordered states of mental health condition requires consultancy from the doctor upon its treatment. Maybe this is also the time when somebody feels that they, or someone else for that matter, are not coping well with the issues regarding mental health; professional help might indeed be a step toward learning to understand and heal one's ailment. It is just the very fact that one's head is as crucial as his/her body, and that medicine can be one of the most efficient tools for restoration from ill health wherever and whenever this may be needed.