Psychopharmacology
Psycho-pharmacology is the branch of psychiatry that deals with the biology, physiology, and genetic basis of mental illness. A psycho-pharmacologist is a medical doctor with at least four years of specialized medical training in psychiatry. The psycho-pharmacologist conducts a complete evaluation of the patient's personal and family's psychiatric and medical histories. Laboratory tests are generally done to exclude any medical causes for the patient's symptoms and complaints.
In addition, the psycho-pharmacologist consults collaboratively with the patient's medical and psychological providers and family in order to obtain critical information to determine a diagnosis to explain the patient's complaints and symptoms. Often medication is just one component of the treatment.
Psychopharmacological agents have come a long way in their development over the last half-century. They include medicines to treat and manage anxiety, mood, psychotic, substance abuse, eating, and personality disorders. They are prescribed for patient's whose mental, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms interfere with their ability to function in their social and professional lives. Often, people turn to medication as a last resort. However, mediations are sometimes an essential part of a compete treatment for mental illness. Unfortunately, medications have side effects. Sometimes, these side effects can be debilitating. The goal of psychopharmacology is to balance out the benefits of treatment with the side effects of many drugs.
Psychiatric illness is complex. As a consequence, the treatment of these illnesses is complicated. Medications are an essential part of the treatment of moderate to severe mental illness, substance abuse, and personality disorders. The psycho-pharmacologist plays a critical role in the evaluation, diagnosis, and resolution of debilitating psychiatric symptoms.
