psychopharmacology
Medication brain study
Psychopharmacology is the study of how drugs affect mood, thinking, and behavior.
The field examines how medications treat mental disorders—antidepressants, antipsychotics, anti-anxiety drugs—and how substances like alcohol or hallucinogens alter mental states.
A psychopharmacologist specializes in prescribing psychiatric medications: Her psychopharmacologist adjusted her dosage after the side effects became intolerable.
Medications treating clinical despair
- antipsychoticsDrugs treating severe mental disorders
- anxiolyticsDrugs reducing pathological worry
- benzodiazepinesSedative-hypnotic drug class
- stimulantsAgents that heighten arousal
SSRIs · SNRIs · MAOIs · tricyclics · barbiturates · amphetamines · sedatives · opioids
Chemical neural messengers
- dopamineReward-linked neural messenger
- serotoninMood-regulating brain chemical
- norepinephrineAlertness and stress hormone
- GABAInhibitory brain neurotransmitter
glutamate · receptors · synapses · reuptake · neuroplasticity · neurochemistry · agonist · antagonist
Measured medicine amount
- prescriptionMedical dispensing authorization
- side-effectsSecondary, unintended outcomes
- pharmacokineticsDrug fate in body
- contraindicationsReasons to avoid treatment
titration · half-life · tolerance · dependence · withdrawal · efficacy · placebo · off-label
Prolonged low state
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- schizophreniaPsychotic disorder with delusions
- bipolarHaving two opposite poles
- PTSDChronic reaction to horrific events
OCD · ADHD · psychosis · mania · insomnia · addiction · comorbidity · relapse
Curative mental treatment
- CBTPsychological treatment abbreviation
- augmentationAct of adding more
- monotherapyTreatment with one drug
- maintenancePreserving working condition
prophylaxis · electroconvulsive · recovery · rehabilitation · outpatient · inpatient
Neither tester nor tested knows
- randomizedArranged by chance
- placebo-controlledTested against inactive substance
- neuroimagingVisualizing nervous system structure
- biomarkersMeasurable disease indicators
antidepressants
Medications treating clinical despair
- antipsychoticsDrugs treating severe mental disorders
- anxiolyticsDrugs reducing pathological worry
- benzodiazepinesSedative-hypnotic drug class
stimulants · SSRIs · SNRIs · MAOIs · tricyclics · barbiturates · amphetamines · sedatives · opioids · hallucinogens
neurotransmitters
Chemical neural messengers
- dopamineReward-linked neural messenger
- serotoninMood-regulating brain chemical
- norepinephrineAlertness and stress hormone
GABA · glutamate · receptors · synapses · reuptake · neuroplasticity · neurochemistry · agonist · antagonist · acetylcholine
dosage
Measured medicine amount
- prescriptionMedical dispensing authorization
- side-effectsSecondary, unintended outcomes
- pharmacokineticsDrug fate in body
contraindications · titration · half-life · tolerance · dependence · withdrawal · efficacy · placebo · off-label · polypharmacy
depression
Prolonged low state
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- schizophreniaPsychotic disorder with delusions
- bipolarHaving two opposite poles
PTSD · OCD · ADHD · psychosis · mania · insomnia · addiction · comorbidity · relapse · remission
therapy
Curative mental treatment
- CBTPsychological treatment abbreviation
- augmentationAct of adding more
- monotherapyTreatment with one drug
maintenance · prophylaxis · electroconvulsive · recovery · rehabilitation · outpatient · inpatient
double-blind
Neither tester nor tested knows
- randomizedArranged by chance
- placebo-controlledTested against inactive substance
- neuroimagingVisualizing nervous system structure
biomarkers · meta-analysis · longitudinal · pharmacogenomics
- mental healthmental illness, therapist, therapists, psychiatrists, psychologist
- neuroscienceneuron, MRI, brain, neurons, synapses
- Child Psychiatrychild psychologist, child psychology, child mental health, child therapy, child therapist
- Neurotherapiesdeep brain stimulation, DBS, neuromodulation, brain stimulation, electroconvulsive therapy
- psychologypsychology, psychologist, therapist, clinical psychology, cognitive psychology
- brain sciencebrain scan, brain research, brain map, brain imaging, brain chemistry
psychopharmacologytalk therapy
Psychological treatment via conversation
psychotherapy · cognitive behavioral therapy · psychoanalysis · counseling · behavioral therapy
pharmacy, psyche, pharmacist, psychiatrist, pharmaceutical, psychiatry, psychotherapy, psychiatric, pharmacology