Question

What is drug therapy ?

Hint:

Define drug therapy as the use of medication to treat psychological disorders. Mention its mechanism (altering brain chemistry/neurotransmitters) and provide examples of major drug classes (e.g., antidepressants, antipsychotics).

Answer 1

Drug therapy, also known as pharmacotherapy or psychopharmacology in the context of mental health, is a form of biomedical therapy that uses psychoactive medications to treat psychological disorders. The primary goal of drug therapy is to manage or reduce symptoms by altering brain chemistry.
These medications work by influencing the levels and activity of neurotransmitters—the chemical messengers that transmit signals between nerve cells (neurons) in the brain. Different classes of drugs target different neurotransmitter systems to treat specific disorders.
Major categories of psychiatric medications include:

Antidepressants: Used to treat depression, anxiety disorders, and other conditions. They often affect neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine.
Antipsychotics: Used to manage psychosis (including delusions and hallucinations), primarily in disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. They typically work by blocking dopamine receptors.
Anxiolytics (Anti-anxiety medications): Used to treat anxiety disorders. Benzodiazepines are a common type that enhances the effect of the neurotransmitter GABA.
Mood Stabilizers: Used to treat bipolar disorder by managing mood swings.
Stimulants: Used to treat ADHD by increasing levels of dopamine and norepinephrine.