Psychotropic medications treat clinical disorders at the neurological level. All affect neurotransmitters, by increasing or decreasing their availability, processing power, or reuptake. Psychotropic medications are becoming more sophisticated and effective because of advancements in neuroscience. The medications are important adjuncts to psychotherapy because of their ability to minimize symptoms. However, psychotropic medications create side-effects, many of which are harmful, uncomfortable, and in rare cases fatal. Therefore, health care workers must monitor patients taking any psychotropic medications. Other medications, diet, or lifestyle habits may also interfere with the action of the psychotropic drugs. Contraindications must be thoroughly examined before recommending psychotropic medications as a treatment option.
Antidepressants treat mainly major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, and can also be used during the depressed phase of bipolar disorder. During the manic phase of bipolar disorder, different medications or treatments may be recommended. Lithium is a commonly prescribed psychotropic drug for treating both the depressive and the manic phases of bipolar disorder (NIMH). The two main classifications of antidepressant medications are monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can be an effective alternative intervention to psychotropic medications. The therapy is mainly used for persons experiencing acute episodes of melancholy but may also be recommended for other disorders that include symptoms like catatonia, mania, or schizophrenia. Antipsychotic drugs are more commonly used to treat psychotic episodes (NIMH). ECT may also be helpful for persons who cannot take psychotropic drugs such as pregnant women or seniors.
Research questions related to the use of psychotropic medications"
1. What are the long-term effects of taking psychotropic medications? Since they are new to the pharmacopia, what are some of the potential long-term risks of taking psychotropic drugs and might they affect human beings on the level of DNA?
2. Do psychotropic drugs become addictive, or are clients able to wean themselves off them without experiencing recurring symptoms of the clinical disorder? Do they have to be taken long-term?
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). "Medications." Retrieved Oct 18, 2008 at http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/medications/complete-publication.shtml
Prescribing Psychotropic Medications to Minors It is every parent's worst nightmare: the drugs intended to cure a child kill him or her instead. Since the development of drugs like Prozac and Paxil, drugs classified as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) have been increasingly used to address depression in patients that otherwise would have been treated with talk therapy alone. This is true of adolescents as well as adults, given that SSRIs
VIII. Preliminary Literature Review The work of Martin, Scahill, Klin and Volkmar (1999) entitled: "Higher-Functioning Pervasive Developmental Disorders: Rates and Patterns of Psychotropic Drugs Use" reports a study in which the frequency, characteristics and associated target symptoms of psychotropic drug use among individuals with developmental disorders and specifically those with "higher functioning pervasive developmental disorders. (HFPDDs) in a total of 109 children, adolescents and adults results show that 55% of these
Clinical Psychology Dissertation - Dream Content as a Therapeutic Approach: Ego Gratification vs. Repressed Feelings An Abstract of a Dissertation Dream Content as a Therapeutic Approach: Ego Gratification vs. Repressed Feelings This study sets out to determine how dreams can be used in a therapeutic environment to discuss feelings from a dream, and how the therapist should engage the patient to discuss them to reveal the relevance of those feelings, in their present,
Anxiety Disorders Diagnosis of anxiety disorders Diagnosis Differential diagnosis Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) Ethical issues in Psychopharamacology In this paper, we present an elaborate analysis of anxiety disorders involving symptoms, diagnosis as well as the differential diagnosis. The aim of this paper is however to discuss the Psychopharamacological of anxiety disorder with specific discussion of the medication for every case. The ethical considerations on Psychopharamacological are also presented. Anxiety disorders are noted by Oakley-Browne (1991) as
E., respect) to the teacher. Conclusion First, it would seem that the karate training in the Palermo article is a terrific idea especially when dealing with young boys, who have a lot of energy and usually respond well to athletic activities. Tightly organized basketball games, or soccer, could also be used in this same context. This is a great idea and a program worth sharing with teachers and school administrators. Secondly, the
Antipsychotic Medication and the Physical Health Problems of the Patient With Mental Illness More and more attention is now being given to the mental disorders especially in U.S. And due to this increase in attention an increase has also been noticed in the treatment of these mental health issues (Zuvekas, 2005). About 30% of the total U.S. population that is between the ages of 18-52 is being affected by mental health
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now