Pyschopharmacology Treatment – An Important Part Of Psychiatric Treatment

 What Is Psychopharmacology?

Psychopharmacology is the study of the effect that drugs have on peoples’ minds and behaviour. Without psychopharmacology, we wouldn’t have anti-anxiety medications, anti-psychotic medications or anti-depressants. Thanks to psychopharmacology, many lives have been changed for the better, and many find that their mental health problems are now manageable. However, this can’t be said for everybody, as the mind is a complicated thing, and everybody is different.

 

Why Do Psychotropic Medications Have A Bad Reputation?

Medications used to treat mental health problems have a lot of stigma attached to them. We’ve all heard people say things like, “They turn you into a different person,”, and, “They make you feel numb to everything.” Although exercising regularly, having a healthy diet and taking time for your own hobbies and relaxation all have a good effect on mental health, for some, this is not enough. Medication affects every person differently. Some people benefit greatly from mental health medication. They might find that anti-depressants take the edge off of their lows, allowing them to continue with their therapy, their routine or their work. They can make things more manageable. Like all medication, there is the possibility of side effects. Possible side effects are what the medication is supposed to prevent. To minimise risk, doctors insist on monitoring patients who are new to anti-depressants to make sure that they start to have the right effect.

 

Why Is Psychopharmacology Important?

For many, psychopharmacology treatment is life-saving. For those people, the ‘cure’ to their depression isn’t simply going on more walks in nature, or taking more time to relax. They need more. Unfortunately, many people that take medication for their mental health are judged for their decision to take medication. People sharing their negative beliefs with those who take medication for their mental health don’t realise that sometimes they’re acting as a saboteur to that person’s mental health.

 

Side Effects

Like any treatment requiring medication, psychopharmacology treatment has side effects. Side effects are a little less predictable with certain psychoactive medications. Some side effects may be weight gain and difficulty sleeping, difficulty concentrating or difficulty staying awake. Some may prefer their life without the side effects, and life may be more manageable without the medication. However, for some who need medications like anti-psychotics, weight gain or insomnia may be favourable to the alternative, which could be psychosis, paranoia, delusions, hallucinations and anything else that could put them or others at risk.

 

What About Addiction?

Some substances used to help treat mental health problems have a bad reputation because they are addictive. This is true, but sometimes it is the best option for somebody who is suffering. Also, most   medications have some kind of withdrawal effect. Newer versions of anti-depressants are said to have less severe withdrawal than older ones. These are known as SSRIs (serotonin sensitive reuptake inhibitors). It’s important to be guided through treatment and monitored regularly by a psychiatrist or your GP to ensure things are under control.