Written by: Arin Lee
Edited by: Holly Paik
Medications are an often helpful – and sometimes necessary – treatment for a wide range of mental health disorders and conditions. In data collected by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), an approximate 20.3% of American adults in 2020 received mental health treatment, including about 16.5% of adults having taken medication for their mental health (Terlizzi & Norris, 2021). However, like many other forms of mental health treatment, prescription medication is heavily stigmatized by the general public; this is often due to the assumption that a person living with mental illness is “not trying hard enough” to overcome their mental illness without the use of any psychiatric medication (Dimitriu, 2019).
It’s important to understand that medication is not a one-size-fits-all solution. In fact, medication works best when it’s used in conjunction with psychotherapy or when it’s integrated into a larger treatment program (“Medication”, n.d.). According to a meta-analysis conducted by Kamenov et al., there is significant evidence that the combination of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy works much better than each intervention alone when treating depressive disorders (Kamenov et al., 2017). Oftentimes, a medication’s role is to provide stability and clarity so that the effects of psychotherapy can be more tangibly measured, and so that the individual can make whatever changes are necessary for themselves in order to improve their mental health and therefore quality of life (Dimitriu, 2019). It’s also important to note that the use of medications requires up to a few weeks or even months in order to experience any improvements or tangible outcomes related to the medication itself.
There are several types of mental health medications, with each type catering to a certain mental health issue or specific mental illnesses. Some types of mental health medications include antipsychotics, antidepressants, mood stabilizers, tranquilizers/sleeping pills, and stimulants among others (“Medication”, n.d.). Antipsychotic medication is prescribed when an individual experiences extremely fearful thoughts (such as paranoia) and/or hallucinations. The aim of antipsychotic medication is to promote clearer thinking and a feeling of calmness often associated with having a larger sense of control (“Medication”, n.d.). Antidepressants are usually prescribed to treat depression and anxiety, as well as to reduce suicidal thoughts (“Medication”, n.d.). Mood stabilizers are often prescribed to buffer extremely high and extremely low moods – thus eliminating the sudden jump from one extreme mood to the next – like those that are commonly associated with bipolar disorder. Tranquilizers and sleeping pills are given to those who live with insomnia or anxiety and are primarily used to help individuals feel more relaxed. Lastly, stimulants are oftentimes used by individuals living with ADHD or other impulse-control related mental health conditions in order to improve concentration and assist with a longer attention span in both children and adults (“Medication”, n.d.).
As with any medication, the possibility of experiencing side effects while taking any psychiatric medication is relatively high. The most commonly experienced side effects of psychiatric medications include dry mouth, constipation, nausea, drowsiness, decreased libido, appetite fluctuations, and irritability (“Medication”, n.d.).
Psychiatric medication is far from being a miracle cure, but its use has proven to be impactful for a large proportion of people dealing with mental illness. By educating the general public on the various types, uses, and effects of psychiatric medications, de-stigmatization of psychotropics, and ultimately widespread acceptance of this form of mental health treatment, becomes within reach.
References:
Dimitriu, A. (2019, January 30). Overcoming the stigma of psychiatric medication:. Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine. https://siliconpsych.com/overcoming-stigma-psychiatric-medication/#:~:text=But%20even%20as%20people%20find,is%20a%20certain%20diet%2C%20or
Kamenov, K., Twomey, C., Cabello, M., Prina, A. M., & Ayuso-Mateos, J. L. (2017, February). The efficacy of psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy and their combination on functioning and quality of life in depression: A meta-analysis. Psychological medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5244449/
Medication. Mental Health America. (n.d.). https://www.mhanational.org/medication
Terlizzi, E. P., & Norris, T. (2021, July 29). Products - data briefs - number 419 - october 2021. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db419.htm
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