Knowra Psychiatric medication Psychiatric medication A drug used to treat mental disorders or manage their symptoms by affecting brain function. Its effects can include changes in mood, perception, thought, or behavior.
Neurotransmitter : A chemical messenger that transmits signals between neurons or between neurons and other cells. Many psychiatric drugs change neurotransmitter release, receptor activity, or reuptake.
Antidepressant : A medication used to treat depressive disorders and, in some cases, other conditions. Antidepressants are prescribed for depression as well as several anxiety and related disorders.
Psychotherapy : The treatment of mental disorders through structured psychological methods and therapeutic relationships. Psychotherapy can be used instead of medication or alongside it, depending on condition and preference.
Adverse drug reaction : A harmful or unintended response to a medicine taken at a usual dose. Side effects can affect daily functioning and influence whether a psychiatric drug remains suitable.
Pharmacogenomics : The study of how genetic variation affects responses to drugs. Genetic tests may inform metabolism or side-effect risk, but their value for choosing psychiatric drugs remains limited.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor : An antidepressant that blocks serotonin reuptake transporters, increasing serotonin signaling in the brain. This widely used drug class illustrates how altering reuptake can treat depression and anxiety disorders.
Antipsychotic : A medication used to treat psychosis and other conditions, often by altering dopamine signaling. Antipsychotics can reduce hallucinations and delusions and are used in several psychiatric conditions.
Electroconvulsive therapy : A medical treatment that induces a controlled seizure using electrical stimulation under anesthesia. It can treat severe psychiatric illness when medication is ineffective, unsuitable, or too slow.
Drug interaction : A change in a drug's effects caused by another drug, food, or substance. Interactions can alter psychiatric medication levels or increase risks such as sedation and toxicity.
Treatment-resistant depression : Depression that has not improved adequately after appropriate treatment attempts. It exposes the limits of current medication options and motivates new treatment strategies.
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