PSYC 1000 Chapter 16: Module 16.3 Biomedical Therapies
3 Dec 2016
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Psy(cid:272)hophar(cid:373)a(cid:272)otherapy: the use of drugs to redu(cid:272)e/(cid:373)a(cid:374)age a patie(cid:374)t(cid:859)s sy(cid:373)pto(cid:373)s. Psychotropic drugs: medications designed to alter psychological functioning. These have popularized in recent years, are now most commonly prescribed medication. Must be able to cross the blood-brain barrier: a network of cells that only allow specific substances to move from the bloodstream to the brain. Antidepressants: medications designed to elevate mood and reduce other symptoms of depression. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (maois): deactivate monoamine oxidase, the enzyme that breaks down serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine in the synapse. This increases the amount of these neurotransmitters, which elevates mood and alleviates some depression symptoms. However, there are bad side effects with this drug: can react with fermented foods, cause diarrhea, weight gain, and sexual dysfunction. Cause nausea, weight gain, sexual dysfunction, possibly seizures. Tricyclic antidepressants: appear to work by blocking reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine, leaving it in the synapse.
