Medication for Psychological Disorders: Pros and Cons

When Psychological disorders become too much to handle by the use of traditional therapy, many individuals, with the guidance of physicians, turn to medication to control the symptoms, which in most cases are very mild. However, some of these medications may turn out to be helpful or not. Therefore, this paper will explain the pros and cons of using medicines in the treatment of psychological disorders, evaluate ethical and risk-benefits of employment of these psychoactive drugs, and summarize theories of scientific and psychiatric disease through employment of drug therapies. Further, it will expound on the most significant challenges in using psychoactive drugs over the next few years.

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Strengths and Weaknesses of Psychoactive Drugs

Psychoactive medication such as stimulants is beneficial and safe if given under doctor's supervision. They bring a calming effect to the patient, which makes many patients love them. However, if not supervised well many patients end up abusing these drugs which leads to long dependence

Some psychoactive drugs such as antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications have very mild side effects to many mentally unstable patients. These side effects may include weight gain, sexual problems, nausea and vomiting, and also diarrhea. Combining selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) with "tripan" medication that is commonly used in treating migraine may cause a life-threatening illness known as serotonin ("National Institute of Mental Health," 2016").

Some of the ethical issues of offering psychoactive drugs to mentally unstable people are informed consent and the dehumanizing side effects of some of these treatments (McLeod, 2018). People with psychological disorders are given these medications without their consent or permission. Additionally, the side effects associated with the use of these drugs, such as hair loss, agitation, and weight changes, are very dehumanizing (McLeod, 2018).

Theories of Psychological Disorders

One of the theories commonly used by physicians to diagnose and recommend treatment in patients with psychological disorders is a biomedical model. The biomedical model postulates that mental disorders are brain diseases; therefore, pharmacological treatment should be considered (Deacon, 2013). The medical model has its strengths and weaknesses. It has helped to give insight into the causes of some mental illnesses such as Alzheimer's disease, also proved to be effective in controlling severe psychological disorders such as schizophrenia (McLeod, 2018). However, psychiatric medication has always been administered to patients on the grounds of a chemical imbalance in the brain. Yet, scientists have tested its validity for over 40 years and still on evidence to prove this correct (McLeod, 2018). It has mild side effects on the patients, such as memory loss, and in as much as these drugs reduce the symptoms, they do not cure the disease so that these patients may depend on the drugs for a lifetime.

Conclusion

For the next few years, overdependence on drugs will be a great challenge, which will encourage drug abuse such as overdosage and excessive use of medicines by patients to get rid of symptoms quickly. Therefore, in as much as some of these drugs calm the patients and reduce the symptoms, they should be taken under close regulation by the physician or caregiver. Additionally, the weaknesses of psychological disorder medication outweigh the strengths, and therefore psychotherapy should always be the main focus and pharmacological treatment as a last resort.

References

Deacon, B. J. (2013). Biomedical model of mental disorder: Critical analysis of its validity, utility, and effects on psychotherapy research. Clinical psychology review, 33(7), 846-861.

McLeod, S. (2018). The Medical Model. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/medical-model.htmlNational Institute of Mental Health. (2016, October). Mental Health Medications. National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/mental-health-medications/index.shtml