Psychopharm – The Treatment of Mental Disorders

1 Psychopharm – The Treatment of Mental Disorders Clinicians treat Major Depressive Disorder with SSRIs. SSRIs for MDD include fluoxetine, citalopram, sertraline, and escitalopram (Busch et al., 2016). These drugs are efficacious and have fewer side effects than other antidepressants. Therapists use naltrexone and acamprosate to treat alcohol use disorder. In some instances, clinicians prescribe Chlordiazepoxide for anxiety attributable to alcohol withdrawal. MDD symptoms take between six and eighteen months to resolve after treatment.

However, people with MDD are not prescribed MAOIs such as phenelzine, selegiline, and isocarboxazid since these agents augment the risk of severe interactions with foods and other medications (Busch et al., 2016). These medications block enzymes in the brain, subsequently increasing certain chemicals in the CNS leading to mood disorders. The factors that elevate the risk of late-onset MDD include female gender, a family history of anxiety disorders, underlying health conditions including mental disorders, and stressful life experiences

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2 The potential neurobiological causes of major depression, as highlighted by Busch et al.

(2016), include disruption of norepinephrine transmission, decreased serotonin secretion, disruption of dopamine transmission, and alterations in various corticolimbic sections of the brain.

The diagnostic criteria for MDD require an individual to have experienced symptoms for at least two weeks. The symptoms that typify MDD include an overwhelming feeling of hopelessness, sadness, and emptiness. Anger outbursts and frustration are also common MDD symptoms (Shapero et al., 2019). Notably, an individual might experience decreased energy and loss of interest in social and normal life activities. Insomnia and eating problems might also occur in some cases (Shapero et al., 2019). Therefore, clinicians should not prescribe drugs that might elevate the risk of insomnia in MDD patients. Such drugs included beta agonist (terbutaline), anticonvulsant (clonazepam), and dopamine agonist (lisuride).

3 References Busch, F., Rudden, M., Shapiro, T., & American Psychiatric Association. (2016).

Psychodynamic treatment of depression. AMA Publishing.

McIntyre, R. S., Rong, C., Subramaniapillai, M., & Lee, Y. (2020). Major depressive disorder.

Elsevier.

Shapero, B. G., Mischoulon, D., & Cusin, C. (2019). The Massachusetts General Hospital guide to depression: New treatment insights and options. Humana Press.