Psychopharmacology is the study of drug-induced changes in mood, thinking, sensation and behaviour. These medicines focus primarily on chemical interaction with the brain and neurotransmitter receptors. These particular interactions between drugs and receptors are referred to as a ‘drug action’ and the resulting changes are referred to as the ‘drug effect.’
Psychopharmacological substances treat psychological illnesses. In its earlier stages, they were primarily used for sedation and then in the 1950s, chlorpromazine was established to treat psychoses and lithium carbonate for mania. Quickly afterwards, cyclic antidepressants, MAOIs, benzodiazepines and other antipsychotics and antidepressants were developed and used.
The major types of psychopharmacological substances that are commonly prescribed include antidepressants, antipsychotics and benzodiazepines. Others that are not typically prescribed are alcohol, hallucinogens, hypnotics, marijuana, opiates and stimulants. Some of these drugs are sourced naturally and others are created through chemical synthesis in a laboratory.
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An arrangement of psychoactive drugs
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons
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