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Medication Management/Psychopharmacologic Services
Psychopharmacology is the science of the use of medicines to treat psychiatric disorders.
Nearly all emotions, thoughts, and actions involve chemical changes in the
brain. Brain chemistry problems- so called "imbalances"- can produce
abnormal, excessive, and distressing thoughts and emotions. Patterns of
such symptoms that frequently occur
together are recognized as Disorders.
A very common example is a Depressive Disorders with
some or all of these symptoms:
- sadness
- irritability
- low motivation
- apathy
- fatigue
- excessive negativity
- trouble concentrating
- sleep disturbances
Another is the "what if?" worry,
tension, and fearfulness of Anxiety Disorders.
Within the past fifty years many medications have been developed that can
significantly reduce the symptoms of such disorders. These include a wide
variety of antidepressant, anti-anxiety, mood stabilizing, antipsychotic, and
ADHD medicines. These medications are generally safe and well tolerated.
Often primary health care practitioners utilize some of these medications quite
effectively. However, psychiatrists are the medical specialists with the
greatest expertise in selecting, adjusting, and optimizing the benefits from
these medicines. Spectrum Behavioral Health psychiatrists
provide a full range of psychopharmacologic services.
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