Psychopharmacology

The word Psychopharmacology is based on the three Greek words "soul", "drug" and "teaching". She investigates the mode of action of psychoactive substances on humans and animals, with the aim of therapeutic application. The effects of active ingredients on the nervous system and the resulting reactions in experience and behavior are researched and described.

What is psychopharmacology?

Psychopharmacology goes back to the German psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin. He not only classified the various mental disorders, but was also one of the first to develop the concept of premature dementia. His work "About the Influence of Simple Psychological Processes by Some Medicines" introduced the field of psychopharmacology.

While this focuses on the knowledge of substances with a central nervous effect and their consequences and effects on the psyche, there is also the field of pharmacopsychiatry, which then implements and applies this knowledge therapeutically.

Psychotropic drugs have a direct effect on mental disorders, are chemically specified substances that must have the condition that they must have psychotropic effects that are intended to have a targeted effect. These drugs are not necessary for normal cell function, but have a psychoactive effect on a physiological level. They are administered intravenously, intraperitoneally, subcutaneously or intramuscularly and, before they can reach the nervous system, they have to cross the blood-brain barrier, which is a barrier between the bloodstream and the central nervous system. Other psychologically active substances are luxury or addictive substances, intoxicating drugs or social drugs.

Treatments & therapies

Psychoactive substances are classified according to different criteria in psychopharmacology. The classification is based on the different effectiveness on the central nervous system. These are once non-specific damping, such. B. hypnotics, anesthetics or ethyl alcohol, non-specific activating, such. B. strychnine or caffeine, or selectively modulating, which means both effects. The last group in particular is of central interest for research, as it can lead to targeted alleviation of neurological and psychological disorders.

Psychotropic drugs must have a psychotropic effect and are used to heal mental disorders. The classification is based on the messenger systems contained in them. These include neuroleptics, which are supposed to help with psychotic states, antidepressants, which are effective in treating manic and depressive states, benzodiazepines for anxiety and restless states and psychostimulants for disorders such as hyperactivity or narcolepsy in children. Analgesics, sleeping pills or psychostimulants that activate psychological states are not used in a targeted manner. They also include anti-epileptic drugs, which are primarily used to treat neurological disorders.

For all these active ingredients, the knowledge about the effect, changes in experience and behavior are documented. This also requires knowledge of the neurobiological basis of an effect. To this end, psychopharmacology focuses on processes such as absorption or resorption, the distribution and breakdown of a substance, the period between ingestion and its effect on the brain, and research into interactions.

Just as mental disorders in their effects and behavioral patterns must first be diagnosed, in the field of psychopharmacology the effect of individual substances on the respective conditions is investigated, including the metabolism in the body or the changes that take place in the brain. In addition, the desired and undesirable effects of substances used in the treatment of mental disorders must be researched. This concerns restrictions of an application in z. B. tranquilizers, antidepressants or analgesics.

It is not the chemically identical composition of these substances that is important for classification and use, but rather the matching effect on behavior and experience in the patient. Damping psychotropic drugs are also used for sleep disorders, restlessness and pain, agitated depression or disorders in old age. Activating substances, in turn, are used to treat schizophrenia.

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Diagnosis & examination methods

Since mental disorders cannot always be traced back to physical damage, but initially take place on an emotional and spiritual level, experiments in psychopharmacology are also carried out with so-called placebos. Groups of people are provided with drugs that contain both effective and ineffective substances and the reaction that occurs in each case, provided that all test subjects expect a certain effect. In addition to the effect, behavior that is based on expectations is also considered, since psychotropic drugs in particular can have undesirable side effects.

The duration of the substance effect and the associated substance dependency are also essential for this area. The behavior towards barbiturates, alcohol or opiates, their effect on the nervous system and the resulting metabolic and cellular tolerance, which often lead to a higher dose over a period of use, are researched. At the same time, the withdrawal symptoms are examined. In this sense, medically used psychotropic drugs show no dependency and the associated withdrawal symptoms, but studies are carried out that describe long-term use in the course of psychodynamics.

The various substances and psychotropic drugs are used in different forms of psychological and psychotic disorders. Such diseases include schizophrenia, which is treated with neuroleptics. In such a psychotic state, the entire experience and behavior of the patient is impaired, perception and thinking are disturbed, often as an expression of delusions or hallucinations. Affect and ego disorders are another consequence, accompanied by social withdrawal or lack of drive.

Depression is treated with antidepressants to reduce the symptoms of depression. These are expressed in strong mood swings, drive or reluctance, psychomotor slowdown and appetite and sleep disorders. The biological and psychological characteristics of depression in terms of trigger and course have not been adequately researched, so that the use of psychotropic drugs is individually tailored to the respective patient. The effect is then examined for changes, depending on the character, and should be anti-anxiety, mood-enhancing, depressive and psychomotor activating.

Anxiety attacks and severe restlessness are dampened by barbiturates and benzodiazepines. Such substances are also used for sleep disorders. The fight against pain is carried out through analgesics.