psychopharmacologists
Mental medication doctors
Psychopharmacologists are specialists who study how drugs affect the mind and behavior.
The field bridges psychiatry and pharmacology, focusing on medications that treat mental disorders—antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and the like.
A psychopharmacologist might research new treatments or, as a physician, prescribe and adjust psychiatric medications: Her psychopharmacologist fine-tuned her dosage until the side effects became manageable.
Medications treating clinical despair
- antipsychoticsDrugs treating severe mental disorders
- anxiolyticsDrugs reducing pathological worry
- SSRIsSelective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
- SNRIsDual-action antidepressant class
benzodiazepines · MAOIs · tricyclics · stimulants · lithium · sedatives · anticonvulsants · atypicals
Chemical neural messengers
- dopamineReward-linked neural messenger
- serotoninMood-regulating brain chemical
- synapsesNeuron-to-neuron transmission points
- receptorsProteins binding specific molecules
neurons · norepinephrine · GABA · glutamate · neuroplasticity · hippocampus · amygdala · neuroimaging
Measured medicine amount
- side-effectsSecondary, unintended outcomes
- efficacyAbility to produce results
- contraindicationsReasons to avoid treatment
- tolerabilityAcceptableness of something unpleasant
half-life · metabolism · bioavailability · compliance · discontinuation · withdrawal · augmentation · monitoring
Inactive therapeutic substitute
- double-blindNeither tester nor tested knows
- pharmacokineticsDrug fate in body
- pharmacogenomicsGene-based drug response study
- randomizedArranged by chance
toxicology · meta-analysis · longitudinal · biomarkers · translational · off-label
Meeting seeking expert guidance
- assessmentFormal evaluation of worth
- diagnosisIdentification of illness
- referralDirecting someone elsewhere
- collaborationJoint intellectual work
psychoeducation · risk-benefit · follow-up · outpatient · inpatient · multidisciplinary · supervision · fellowship
antidepressants
Medications treating clinical despair
- antipsychoticsDrugs treating severe mental disorders
- anxiolyticsDrugs reducing pathological worry
- SSRIsSelective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
SNRIs · benzodiazepines · MAOIs · tricyclics · stimulants · lithium · sedatives · anticonvulsants · atypicals · psychotropics
neurotransmitters
Chemical neural messengers
- dopamineReward-linked neural messenger
- serotoninMood-regulating brain chemical
- synapsesNeuron-to-neuron transmission points
receptors · neurons · norepinephrine · GABA · glutamate · neuroplasticity · hippocampus · amygdala · neuroimaging · reuptake
dosage
Measured medicine amount
- side-effectsSecondary, unintended outcomes
- efficacyAbility to produce results
- contraindicationsReasons to avoid treatment
tolerability · half-life · metabolism · bioavailability · compliance · discontinuation · withdrawal · augmentation · monitoring · bloodwork
placebo
Inactive therapeutic substitute
- double-blindNeither tester nor tested knows
- pharmacokineticsDrug fate in body
- pharmacogenomicsGene-based drug response study
randomized · toxicology · meta-analysis · longitudinal · biomarkers · translational · off-label
consultation
Meeting seeking expert guidance
- assessmentFormal evaluation of worth
- diagnosisIdentification of illness
- referralDirecting someone elsewhere
collaboration · psychoeducation · risk-benefit · follow-up · outpatient · inpatient · multidisciplinary · supervision · fellowship · subspecialty
psychopharmacologistspsychotherapists
Mental health treatment providers
psychoanalysts · counselors · therapists · clinical psychologists · hypnotherapists
psychopharmacologistspsychoanalysts
Therapists exploring unconscious drives