Psychopharmacology, one division of biopsychology, is an especially interesting field as it delves into the ways in which drugs are capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier and the effects they may have on mood, cognition or behavior in both humans and animals. Researchers in this division of psychology are most interested in a wide range of drug classes such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, and stimulants. Drugs are researched for their pharmaceutical properties, physical and psychological side effects. In the field of psychopharmacology, clinical studies are very specific. These studies usually begin with animal testing and end with human testing. After the completion of testing, the drug being researched, is proposed to the FDA and is either introduced commercially via a prescription or placed over the counter for sale (Correll, Kratochvil, & March, 2011). This paper will focus on many of the antipsychotics and antidepressants currently being used on the market and the numerous studies that have been done with these drugs using rat research. Of particular interest is Abilify™ (aripiprazole), which is currently being used a booster to many anti-depressant drugs. Interest lies in whether Abilify™ can be used alone and whether its’ efficacy will still have similar results when treating depression. Does Administering Abilify™ Decrease Depressive Symptoms in Rats? Depression, for the purpose of this paper, is defined as the lethargy and immobility a rat experiences when put into a tank full of water during a forced swim test (Wee, Wang, Woolverton, Pulvirenti, & Koob, 2007). It is measured by the inability of the rat to swim, climb or keep their heads above the water over a short span of time (Arunrut, Alhandre, Chen... ... middle of paper ... ...is experiment was to compare, over 15 minutes of continuous swim, how much immobility could be measured. The results concluded that those subjects who were induced with an SSRI, showed a reduction of immobility. Kitamura et al., (2010) suggested that anti-depressant drugs when used as a booster to another anti-depressant block as well as increase efficacy. This supports other findings. Li et al., (2005) investigated the effect of anti-psychotic and anti-depressant drugs on rats. Anti-psychotic drugs have become a critical factor in treating depression. Research strongly suggests that an anti-psychotic when administered with an anti-depressant increases its efficacy. The results of the present studies may have had more significance if the researchers hadn’t used Abilify™ alone. It would suggest why some research failed to get results when using only Abilify™.
Stahl, S. M., & Mignon, L. (2010). Antipsychotics: Treating psychosis, mania and depression (2nd ed.).
Introduction: For my research project I would like to explore the effectiveness of antidepressant drugs. Antidepressant drugs are used are used to treat major depression and other conditions, some of which include anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, chronic pain and other disorders. Around the world antidepressants are used to cure these types of mental illnesses. It is argued by both medical professionals and other people whether or not they believe that antidepressants work. According to Mayo Clinic one in ten Americans take an antidepressant. Today, antidepressants have became the most common way around the world to treat major depression
Treating depressive and bipolar disorders with antidepressants remains a popular option in clinical practice. Most clinicians choose the drug or class of drugs, usually selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, SSRI's, that is most effective and best tolerated with fewer severe side effects. These drugs are beneficial because they specifically target serotonin-based areas of the brain without affecting other neurotransmitter systems. SSRI's largely replaced tricyclic antidepressants which work by blocking the absorption (reuptake) of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine, thereby increasing the levels of these two neurotransmitters in the brain. Tricyclic antidepressants present severe side effects and thus are usually only used when other treatments have failed. If SSRI's or tricyclics are not effective Monoamine oxidase inhibitors may be prescribed. MAOI's, enhance tyramine to increase norepinephrine and serotonin. While taking MAOI's you must abstain from foods and alcohol that contain tyramine such as, yogurt, aged cheese, and substances such as cold medications. This is because a potential toxic reaction could occur. Additionally, other antidepressants may be utilized such as Wellbutrin (bupropion) an NDRI-
-Lieberman JA, Stroup TS, McEvoy JP, Swartz MS, Rosenheck RA, Perkins DO, Keefe RS, Davis SM, Davis CE, Lebowitz BD, Severe J, Hsiao JK. Effectiveness of antipsychotic drugs in patients with chronic schizophrenia. N Engl J Med. 2005. Web.
...ossible adverse interactions between an antidepressant medication and the substances a patient is abusing (such as the potential for increased sedation or intoxication).” (p 29).
In summary, Laurence’s article sanctioning ketamine as a cure for depression is an interesting and well-written article, however, it could give people the wrong idea about ketamine. There is a rapidly increasing interest in the discovery of drugs targeting glutamate neurotransmitter in the brain, as a hope to rapidly treat treatment-resistant patients (Duman & Ronald, 2013). While the mentioned studies in the article and this essay have given insight into ketamine’s antidepressant effects, this is still something that needs to be researched further as a lot of unresolved problems are still around with ketamine. Furthermore, the potential side effects of ketamine, including bladder and kidney damage, hepatotoxicity and psychological effects still require extreme consideration.
Antidepressants are FDA approved drugs given to patients to alleviate symptoms, most commonly anxiety and depression. There are many people who are skeptical about the use of these drugs and if they really work as a benefit toward the people taking them. There are many pros to taking the medications, but there are also cons. This is why users of these drugs have to be aware of the side effects in order to get the full use of the medicine. Research shows that the benefits of antidepressants outweigh the negative long term effects, but only if they are taken in moderation.
Part One: Overview of depression, the serotonin system, and explanation of SSRI medications and alternatives.
http://drkaplan.co.uk/2012/01/homeopathy/antidepressants-evidence-and-our-%E2%80%98brave-new-world%E2%80%99. Smith, Nicole. A.
Antidepressant medications and other treatments can often make an astonishing difference in depressive symptoms within a few weeks. With the right treatment eight out of ten people improve. Before the 20th century, most people experiencing depression went without diagnosis and treatment. Early, crude forms of sedatives were given to people with severe agitation, anxiety or psychotic depression. Like many other aspects of science there has been an evolutionary growth of the quality and range of availability of help for illnesses like this.
Antidepressant are a form of pharmacotherapy treatment developed to treat the symptoms of major depression. Antidepressants are used for many other types of conditions including anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, dysthymia, eating disorders, sleeping disorders, and substance abuse, pain syndromes, gastrointestional disorders. Antidepressants usually require several weeks to notice significant effects. There are no antidepressants or any medication that is completely free of adverse effects. This article explains that the adverse effects of antidepressant can decrease compliance and slow down the rate of recovery. It is important for one to take note of potential side-effects before choosing the best antidepressant to suit their personalized needs. Statistics show that about 28 percent of patients sto...
This paper will examine the complicated roles a counselor has related to the use of prescribed medication in treating mental health issues. The first section will explore the boundaries and ethical implications for a counselor surrounding the recommendation and prescription of psychotropic medication. The next section will include the counselor’s role in client education about medication. The third section will relate to the details of client referral when medication is warranted.
Psychodynamic therapy, focuses on unconscious mind and how past experiences, inner thoughts, fears, and emotions The main goal of psychodynamic therapy is for clients to be self-aware of the past and how it effects who they are in the present. This type of therapy focuses on the underlying problems and emotions that influenced the client’s behavior. (Psych Central, 2016)
Depression is a mental illness, which affects millions of Americans each year. Currently there are many prescription drugs, called anti-depressants that have been proven to successfully treat it. The causes of depression are somewhat of a medical enigma, however, it is known that depression is associated with a change in the brains chemistry involving the function of neurotransmitters (Reichert). This chemical change occurs in healthy brain’s, which experience sadness, but ends after the unpleasant stimulus is removed. In people suffering from depression this chemical change does not correspond to any particular stimulus. Symptoms of depression are often incapacitating and include severe and extended sadness, feelings of worthlessness, feelings of emptiness, irritability and anxiety (Reichert, Spake).
Another goal of behavioral pharmacology is to develop animal behavioral models to screen chemical compounds with therapeutic potentials. Scientists who are studying this field typically use small animals to study psychotherapeutic drugs such as antipsychotics, antidepressants and anxiolytics, and drugs of abuse such as nicotine, cocaine, methamphetamine. [6]