Neuropsychopharmacology combines psychopharmacology and neuroscience to study the effects of drugs on the brain and behavior. It aims to develop new drugs to treat mental health conditions and neurological disorders by studying neurotransmitter activity. Critics argue that there is not enough conclusive research to determine the causes of abnormal brain impulses.
Neuropsychopharmacology is a field of study that combines the foundations of psychopharmacology and neuroscience. Psychopharmacology is a science involving the possible effects of drugs on the brain and the behavior they can cause, while neuroscience is the study of the nervous system and the process of how nerves control impulses and behavior. One of the main purposes of this interdisciplinary science is to conclusively conclude the connections between certain drugs and how they affect the brain in order to develop new drugs to treat mental health conditions and neurological disorders.
The brain controls impulses through the movement of neurotransmitters throughout the body. Neurotransmitters are chemicals responsible for transmitting messages to nerve cells throughout the body to trigger impulses. Abnormalities in the transmission process are thought to be the contributing factor to mental health conditions, as are conditions, such as epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease, that cause motor skills to malfunction. Neuropsychopharmacology generally aims to study how different drugs affect the functioning of neurotransmitters as a means of devising new drugs to help treat various neurological conditions.
Neuropsychopharmacology research studies tend to focus primarily on a variety of mental health conditions. These can include psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, in which a person becomes completely detached from reality, or mood disorders, such as depression or bipolar disorder. Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia, as well as sleep disorders and anxiety disorders, are also often the subject of research for new and more effective drugs.
One of the central foundations of neuropsychopharmacology is the study of how drugs affect the brain, as well as uncontrollable impulses and behaviors. During research, drugs are typically observed to determine whether they change neurotransmitter activity in any way and thus lead to changes in mood or behavior. One commonly prescribed drug that is often routinely studied is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These types of medications help stabilize levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of happiness and well-being, and low levels of which can contribute to anxiety and mood disorders. Exactly how or why drugs like SSRIs work are often not known, so this interdisciplinary science tends to aim to uncover definitive answers.
Critics of this interdisciplinary science believe there hasn’t been enough conclusive research into determining how the brain’s mechanisms become abnormal. They often cite inconsistencies in research findings when it comes to neurological disorders, such as differing conclusions based on gender, age or genetics. Since a major goal of science is to determine the biological aspects that cause abnormal brain impulses and lead to changes in behavior, critics may argue that this field of study has not proven successful.
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