What Is Psychopharmacology?

Psychopharmacology is the scientific study of the effects that taking drugs has on one’s behavior. It entails more than simply prescribing medications. The incorporation of psychopharmacological principles, scientific data, clinical practices and individual psychopathology indicates a proficient practice of psychopharmacology within the field of psychology. The scientific study of behavior and its biological basis, as well as the interaction of different medications can have both immediate and long term effects on a person’s functioning. Presently, medications are prescribed and monitored in an attempt to decrease or eliminate symptoms that individuals with mental disorders are suffering with. Antidepressants and antipsychotics are some
Drugs can be prescribed for any number of medical conditions. Drugs such as alcohol, marijuana, and opiates can be used recreationally or as a means of self-medicating. Another drug that is both legal and does not require a prescription to obtain is caffeine, typically used as a way to wake up and feel more alert. Most drugs act in one of the following ways. Agonists are drugs that mimic neurotransmitters and cause neurons to fire. Antagonists are a second type of drug. These attach to receptor sites on a neuron to stop its ability to fire. Finally, a third type of drug is a reuptake inhibitor. These drugs work by attaching to axon branches so that the axon terminal cannot suck up the leftover neurotransmitter in the synapse, thus creating an excess of the
A chemical action, for example, when drinking, would be the alcohol content and how it contributes to the “drug experience”. Pharmacological factors include anything related to a drugs biochemical or physiological action, such as chemical structure, dosage, and method of drug delivery into the body. Finally, nonpharmacological factors also contribute to the “drug experience”. These would include anything that is not related to the pharmacological factors, such as characteristics of the drug user and where the drug is being used. Alcohol and drug addiction is costly to Americans. Drug use in America is also the cause of many deaths. Drug use can cause changes in the brain, making it harder for individuals to quit using. It is important to study and understand the use of drugs and alcohol in the United States so that we are better equipped to create and provide treatments for individuals who are dealing with drug addiction. The more we know about drug use the better chance we have of impacting the numbers of people stopping their use of drugs and moving on to lead productive lives with sustained