====== Psychiatry Pharmacology ======

Psychiatric medications modify behavior by changing neurotransmission in specific brain circuits — primarily the prefrontal cortex and limbic system.

<WRAP center round important 70%>
Psychiatry = circuit imbalance → neurotransmitter imbalance → drug correction
</WRAP>

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===== Core Neurotransmitters =====

  * Serotonin — mood, anxiety, obsessions
  * Dopamine — reward, motivation, psychosis
  * Norepinephrine — attention, arousal, energy
  * GABA — inhibition, calming
  * Glutamate — excitation, cognition

Understanding the imbalance predicts the medication choice.

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<WRAP center round box 70%>
==== Psychiatric Medications Compared By The Efficacies On Various Receptors ====
📄 **Reference Handout (PDF)** \\

{{ :neuro:psych:psych_med_potencies_for_receptors.pdf |}}
</WRAP>
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===== Mood Disorders =====

==== Depression ====
  * [[psych:depression:start|Major Depressive Disorder]]
  * [[psych:treatment_resistant:start|Treatment-Resistant Depression]]

==== Bipolar Disorder ====
  * [[psych:bipolar:start|Bipolar Disorder]]
  * [[psych:mood_stabilizers:start|Mood Stabilizers]]

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===== Anxiety & Trauma Disorders =====

  * [[psych:anxiety:start|Generalized Anxiety Disorder]]
  * [[psych:panic:start|Panic Disorder]]
  * [[psych:ocd:start|Obsessive Compulsive Disorder]]
  * [[psych:ptsd:start|PTSD]]
  * [[psych:social_anxiety:start|Social Anxiety]]

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===== Psychotic Disorders =====

  * [[psych:schizophrenia:start|Schizophrenia]]
  * [[psych:antipsychotics:start|Antipsychotics]]

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===== Attention Disorders =====

  * [[psych:adhd:start|ADHD]]
  * [[psych:stimulants:start|Stimulants]]
  * [[psych:nonstimulants:start|Non-Stimulant ADHD Medications]]

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===== Sleep Disorders =====

  * [[psych:insomnia:start|Insomnia]]
  * [[psych:z_drugs:start|Z-Drugs]]
  * [[psych:melatonin:start|Melatonin & Circadian Agents]]

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===== Drug Classes =====

==== Antidepressants ====
  * [[psych:ssri:start|SSRIs]]
  * [[psych:snri:start|SNRIs]]
  * [[psych:tca:start|TCAs]]
  * [[psych:maoi:start|MAO Inhibitors]]
  * [[psych:atypical_antidepressants:start|Atypical Antidepressants]]

==== Anxiolytics ====
  * [[psych:benzodiazepines:start|Benzodiazepines]]
  * [[psych:buspirone:start|Buspirone]]
  * [[psych:antihistamine_anxiolytics:start|Hydroxyzine]]

==== Mood Stabilizers ====
  * [[psych:lithium:start|Lithium]]
  * [[psych:anticonvulsant_mood_stabilizers:start|Anticonvulsant Mood Stabilizers]]

==== Antipsychotics ====
  * [[psych:first_generation_antipsychotics:start|First-Generation Antipsychotics]]
  * [[psych:second_generation_antipsychotics:start|Second-Generation Antipsychotics]]

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===== High-Yield Concepts =====

<WRAP center round tip 80%>
Depression → increase monoamines  \\
Psychosis → decrease dopamine  \\
Anxiety → enhance GABA or serotonin  \\
ADHD → increase dopamine & norepinephrine
</WRAP>

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===== How to Approach a Patient =====

1. Identify symptom cluster
2. Identify neurotransmitter imbalance
3. Choose drug class
4. Choose specific medication

Do NOT memorize drugs first.

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===== Related =====

  * [[lectures:psych:start|Psychiatry Lectures]]
  * [[neuro:start|Neurologic Pharmacology]]