Psychopharmacology
Psychopharmacology studies how medications affect mood, thought, perception, and behavior, and how those effects can be used in treatment.
Neurotransmitter: A chemical messenger released by neurons to influence other cells. Many psychiatric medications alter neurotransmitter release, receptor activity, or reuptake.
Antidepressant: A medication used primarily to treat depressive disorders and related conditions. Antidepressants are a major class of drugs studied and prescribed in psychopharmacology.
Psychiatric diagnosis: The classification of mental disorders based on symptoms, history, and established criteria. Diagnosis helps determine which medication targets are relevant to a person's symptoms.
Psychotherapy: The use of structured psychological methods to help treat emotional, behavioral, or mental disorders. Psychotherapy can be an alternative or a partner to medication in treatment plans.
Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome: A group of symptoms that can follow abrupt reduction or cessation of some antidepressants. It makes tapering and clear counseling relevant to antidepressant treatment.
Receptor agonist: A substance that binds to a receptor and activates it. Some psychiatric drugs produce effects by activating particular receptors.
Antipsychotic: A medication used to treat psychosis and, in some cases, other psychiatric conditions. These drugs can reduce hallucinations and delusions, with effects shaped by receptor actions.
Randomized controlled trial: A study that assigns participants by chance to compare interventions under controlled conditions. Trials test whether psychiatric medications outperform placebo or another treatment.
Electroconvulsive therapy: A medical treatment that uses controlled electrical stimulation to induce a brief seizure under anesthesia. It is a non-drug biological treatment used when rapid or substantial improvement is needed.
Tardive dyskinesia: A movement disorder involving involuntary, repetitive movements, associated with prolonged exposure to some medications. This serious potential complication influences antipsychotic selection and monitoring.