Psychotropic drug

About: Psychotropic drug is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 2309 publications have been published within this topic receiving 54070 citations.

Biological Monitoring of Psychotropic Drug Treatment: Usefulness and Limitations

Abstract: The problems of clinical management of psychiatric patients using psychotropic drugs have led to search for biological monitoring of drug response. The requirements of such a monitor are that it should be relevant, reliable, linear in relationship, easy to measure and acceptable to the patient. We are still some way from developing such useful practical indicators but several measures, physiological, endocrinological and biochemical, promise well.

Antipsychotic drugs for non-psychotic patients: Results of a questionnaire survey of prescribing practices among Wessex psychiatrists

Abstract: Aims and method The aim of this study was to examine the pattern and basis of use of psychotropic drug prescriptions by psychiatrists to relieve anxiety symptoms arising from non-psychotic disorders. A questionnaire survey was conducted among senior psychiatrists in the Wessex region. Results The response rate was 74%. A range of psychotropic drugs was used to treat non-psychotic anxiety symptoms, most commonly selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs. Antipsychotic drugs are reserved for second- and third-line treatments, mainly in low doses but sometimes in high doses and for long periods. The use of antipsychotic drugs as anxiolytics was seen by the majority of responders as reasonable practice, and they are considered suitable alternatives to benzodiazepines. This practice was based mainly on personal experience. Clinical implications Anxiety symptoms arising from non-psychotic disorders are common in the out-patient population. Although antipsychotics are used by psychiatrists to relieve these symptoms, the ‘evidence base’ for such practice is flimsy and mainly based on clinical experience. The benefit/risk ratio should be considered carefully before prescribing antipsychotics for non-psychotic anxiety. Further research is needed in this area, contributing towards general guidelines.

The 10th Congress — Quebec 1976

Abstract: I had served on the CINP Executive Committee for 20 years. I was one of the Councillors of the first Executive Committee and the President of the 10th Congress.

The Platelet as a Peripheral Model of Serotonergic Function in Child Psychiatry

Abstract: Neurochemical strategies have been adopted to implicate specific neurotransmitters in psychiatric disorders and the therapeutic mechanisms of psychotropic agents. These studies have examined alterations in neurotransmitter metabolites in urine, plasma, and spinal fluid as a reflection of the release and turnover of specific neurotransmitters in the brain (a marker of presynaptic function), and binding to specific receptor sites (a marker of postsynaptic function). With the introduction of positron-emission tomography (PET), it has become feasible to evaluate the distribution and density of at least some neurotransmitter receptors in vivo in patients and healthy normal control subjects. Another strategy has involved the identification of specific neurotransmitter and psychotropic drug receptor sites on easily accessible peripheral tissues. A major limitation of these latter studies is the assumption that the binding characteristics of these “peripheral” binding sites reflects the situation in brain accurately.