Posted: September 5th, 2022

Psychopharmacology

Psychopharmacology
Psychopharmacology is the field of science that studies the effects of drugs on mental disorders and how these drugs impact behavior, mood, and thoughts. It is one of the most complex and dynamic fields in healthcare that integrates both natural and social sciences, including psychology, chemistry, neurology, to gain an in-depth understanding of medicine and psychology.
Since the early 1920s, the field of psychopharmacology has grown and advanced tremendously, continuously trying to study how different types of compounds, both natural and chemical-manufactured, affect how a person behaves by altering their thinking and feeling patterns. Among some common mental disorders treated using these drugs include depression, anxiety, and psychosis. However, psychopharmacology, being a highly complex field, demands continuous study to keep current with new advances.
Who is a psychopharmacologist?
Any physician who is involved in treating patients using psychotropic medications is a Psychopharmacologist. These are expert advisors who diagnose and prescribe the best medication for patients with mental health conditions. Thus, they ought to understand how the drugs work and the expected behavioral outcome of each drug. Most importantly, the medic should also be able to discern between a wide range of mental conditions through symptom manifestation.
To diagnose and prescribe drugs, a psychopharmacologist must also have in-depth knowledge and understanding of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, which pertains to the drug’s mechanism of action and how the body responds towards specific drug options. Besides, the scientist must possess the social and communication skills required to create, navigate and maintain a working relationship with patients who come to them with different mental disorders.
How do Psychopharmacology drugs treat mental health conditions?
Psychotic medications alter behavior by impacting the central nervous system (CNS). The central nervous system comprises up to 100 billion neurons that act as neurotransmitters, communicating information through different parts of the body. For example, sensory neurons transmit information from receptor cells to the brain, while motor neurons transmit information from the brain to the muscles. Therefore, a psychopathologist is expected to have significant knowledge of neuroscience to understand how the drugs affect the CNS.
Psychopharmacology medications
Some of the most common psychotropic medications used in psychopharmacology include:
• Stimulants Promote energy release, which makes one more attentive and alert
• Antidepressants Mostly prescribed to patients with depression, anxiety, and insomnia
• Antipsychotics used by patients diagnosed with psychosis
• Antimanic or Mood stabilizers work by reducing impulses and are primarily used to treat patients with bipolar disorders, mood swings.
• Anti-anxiety drugs or tranquilizers slow down the central nervous system and treat different forms of anxiety, such as panic attacks and fear.
References
Ghaemi, N. (2019). Clinical psychopharmacology: Principles and practice. Oxford University Press, USA.
Schatzberg, A. F., & Nemeroff, C. B. (Eds.). (2017). The American psychiatric association publishing textbook of psychopharmacology. American Psychiatric Pub.
Staudt, M. D., Herring, E. Z., Gao, K., Miller, J. P., & Sweet, J. A. (2019). Evolution in the treatment of psychiatric disorders: from psychosurgery to psychopharmacology to neuromodulation. Frontiers in neuroscience, 13, 108.

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