Discussion Forum Unit 2

There are many different ways to approach and treat mental health disorders including

psychotherapy, psychopharmacology, or a combination of both. Here, you will discuss

what your thoughts are on psychopharmacology.

According to the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology (2022),

psychopharmacology is the study of the use of medications in treating mental disorders.

Drugs have various effects on the human body. When a drug alters how a person can think or

feel then this means that that particular drug was designed to affect the brain and nervous

system. Drugs that have this particular effect on the human body are known as psychoactive

drugs. One of the most commonly used psychoactive drug is caffeine. Caffeine falls under

this category since it allows our brains to stay awake.

It is important for psychopharmacologists to understand the relationship between the

body and medication. They must know how the drugs interact with each other, how long a

particular drug can remain in the body and the varying effects that the same drug will have on

different individuals since we all have a different genetic make-up (ASCP, 2022). Having a

basic understanding of psychopharmacology can give insights into a wide range of mental

disorders. According to Barron (2022), the pharmacological treatments of various disorders

such as Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia and depression can give us a clearer

understanding of what is actually taking place in the brain.

Do you think it is being used excessively or appropriately? How might culture affect the

use of drugs to reduce symptoms brought by mental illness? Make sure you mention

both pros and cons.

In terms of the treatment of mental illnesses, the course of treatment is dependent on

the severity of the disorder that the person is experiencing. For some individuals, their
disorders can be treated by using psychotherapy only. Others may require a combination of

psychotherapy and medications and others may require to remain on medications for the rest

of their lives. There are some cultures that do not appreciate the science and benefits that

associated with psychotherapy and are more inclined to treat mental illnesses by using

medications. These medications are usually prescribed without giving proper consideration to

mental state of the patients by using therapy sessions. Many patients who are on these

medications usually remain on them for a lifetime and some even suffer side effects from

using these drugs for an extended period of time.

Pros of Psychopharmacology:

 There are many clinical benefits that are associated with psychopharmacology.

According to Baldessarini (2014), the use of medications to treat and control mental

illnesses have “brought about fundamental changes in the treatment of many major

psychiatric disorders such as mania, depression, chronic psychotic disorders such as

schizophrenia as well as severe anxiety disorders.

 A major pro that can be associated with utilizing psychopharmacology to treat mental

illnesses is the ease with which these drugs can be administered and how quickly its

effects can be seen. While psychotherapy can take a long period of time before results

are noticed, the effects of medications on a person’s mood can be noticed in a mere

thirty minutes to an hour.

 Another benefit of psychopharmacology is the fact that is can be more cost-effective

when compared to psychotherapy. An additional benefit is that the majority of

psychopharmacological medications are covered under several insurance policies

while this might not be the case for psychotherapy.

Cons of Psychopharmacology:

 A major drawback associated with using medications to treat psychiatric disorders is

the addictive properties that are associated with taking these drugs.

 Another con is the fact that these medications, while they would be effective in

treating the psychiatric disorders, they might have serious side effects to other organs

of the body.

 Given the intricate make up of mental disorders, using medication alone to treat them

might not be a guaranteed route to success. I believe that in order to effectively treat a

psychiatric disorder, combining both psychotherapy and psychopharmacology would

be the most successful route.

References

American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology (2022). Retrieved from

https://ascpp.org/resources/information-for-patients/what-is-psychopharmacology/

Barron, S. (2021). Psychopharmacology. In R. Biswas-Diener & E. Diener (Eds), Noba

textbook series: Psychology. Champaign, IL: DEF publishers. Retrieved from

http://noba.to/umx6f2t8

Baldessarini R. J. (2014). The impact of psychopharmacology on contemporary psychiatry.

Canadian journal of psychiatry. Revue Canadienne de Psychiatrie, 59(8), 401–405.

https://doi.org/10.1177/070674371405900801