Psychopharmacology is the study of substances that influence mental states. Such agents induce changes in mood, sensation, thinking, or behavior, and may be derived from plants or other natural sources or chemically synthesized in a laboratory.
The Role of Drug Treatment in Mental Disorders
From anxiety to psychosis , many mental health disturbances respond to treatment with drugs. Agents with sedating effects are widely used to combat insomnia and help people fall asleep or maintain sleep, a major contributor to overall physical and mental health.
There are, however, no medications approved to treat personality disorders , such as borderline personality disorder, although medication may be used to target specific symptoms, such as impulsivity.
In some conditions, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder , medication is the only way of controlling symptoms, and treatment must be continued indefinitely to suppress symptoms . For disorders such as anxiety and depression, medication is often given for varying durations to relieve acute symptoms. It may take several trials to find the best drug in any particular case, and dosage must usually be adjusted periodically, as so many variables internally and externally influence medication effectiveness.
Research has repeatedly established that both medication and psychotherapy are equally effective for such common conditions as anxiety and depression, and the most effective treatment is a combination of the two. Drugs relieve symptoms of disorder while psychotherapy is aimed at removing the causes, particularly the habitual behavior and thought patterns that lead to episodes of acute distress.
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