Psychopharmacology

The use of drugs to alleviate the symptoms of mental disorders makes psychoactive agents—especially antipsychotics and antidepressants—among the most widely prescribed pharmaceuticals today. Much debate surrounds the use of stimulants to treat attention-deficit problems and the side effects of antidepressants, especially for children. The general effectiveness of antidepressants when measured against a placebo remains controversial, although the treatments that prove most effective combine drugs with psychotherapy.

Antidepressants

How to Take an Antidepressant

A definitive guide to depression drugs.

by Hara Estroff Marano

Which Drug for Whom?

There's no one recipe for determining the best drug for a patient.

by Hara Estroff Marano

Prescriptions for Happiness?

Do antidepressants really work?

by Seymour Fisher,Roger P. Greenberg

The Transformation of Personality

Prozac and its peers have the power to dramatically reshape lives.

by Peter D. Kramer

No Exit: Antidepressants and Suicide

Questions about a study claiming antidepressants do not cause suicide.

by Dr. Nassir Ghaemi in Mood Swings

Skirmish or Siege?

Is depression primarily a recurring disorder? Can it be cured?

by Christina Frank

The Role of Drugs

The Psychology of Psychopharmacology

Medication is not a substitute for psychotherapy.

by Dr. Stephen A. Diamond, Ph.D. in Evil Deeds

The (Modest) Future of Psychopharmacology

How prescribing can benefit from psychology

by Peter D. Kramer in In Practice

How To Think About Medication

Taking medication for depression means defying cultural conditioning.

by Ellen McGrath

Placebo Power

Response rate to placebo drugs is on the rise.

by Darby Saxbe

See Also

Stimulants et al

Running on Ritalin

Ritalin abuse is on the rise.

by Melissa Mertl

Ritalin on first, Dexedrine on second...

Roids or speed?

by Dr. Nassir Ghaemi in Mood Swings

Amphetamines Without Tears

Your brain on amphetamines: better or worse?

by Dr. Nassir Ghaemi in Mood Swings

Antipsychotics New and Old

Maybe drug marketing has been a little too effective.

by Peter D. Kramer in In Practice

See Also

The Latest on Psychopharmacology

An epidemic of antisocial children. by Marisa Mauro, Psy.D.
Medication, medication, medication… by Michael J. Formica
It's up to us how fantastic our lives can be. by Ethan Gilsdorf
Are substance-abusing, sex warring male writers extinct yet? by Lynn Phillips
The latest news about antidepressants and depression is worth taking seriously by Christopher Lane, Ph.D.
Can people readjust themselves? by Shirah Vollmer, MD
Still hanging onto old habits? Here's how to let go. by Jennifer Haupt
How are we diagnosing these days? by Shirah Vollmer, MD
Can we change personality with medication? by Shirah Vollmer, MD
Calming someone down....how does a therapist do that? by Shirah Vollmer, MD

Psychopharmacology Blogs

  • Nassir Ghaemi

    Mood Swings

    A Psychiatrist Surveys the Mind and the Wider World
    By Dr. Nassir Ghaemi

Current Issue

Heartbreak and Home Runs: The Power of First Experiences

How early life experiences shape our character.