Today our topic of discussion is Principle of Psychopharmacotherapy.
Principle of Psychopharmacotherapy
Principles of Psychopharmacologic Therapy
- Psychopharmacologic agents do not “cure” mental illness
- Clients require physical and psychiatric assessments before psychotropic medication is prescribed for them
- Clients hold various views about the use of psychotropic medications; some of these views may bring about nonadherence to medication treatment
- Clients must give informed consent prior to administration of psychotropic medication including an explanation of risks versus benefits
- Psychotropic medication have different onsets of actions. Most medications (Lithium, antidepressants) require daily administration for one to several weeks before their intended effects are evident; some medications (benzodiazepines, antipsychotics) act more immediately.
Reasons for Non-compliance to Psychotropic Regimen
- Medications may be expensive and the client cannot afford them
- Clients may refuse to take medications because of their unpleasant or distressing side-effects
- Clients may stop taking their medications because they begin to feel better and believe that they no longer need the medications
- Clients may not believe they have any illness requiring medication or fear the stigma associated with having a mental illness and taking medication
- Mental illness itself such as paranoia, contributes to the client’s denial or fears about medication usage.
Services that Encourage Adherence to Medication Regimen
Follow up interactions with the client will help the nurse verify that the client understands the purpose, proper administration, intended effects, side and toxic effects of, and how to treat serious problems associated with psychotropic medications.
- Support persons can encourage and assist the client’s adherence to his or her psychotropic medication regimen.
- Appropriate laboratory tests must be conducted to prevent serious complications and assure safe and therapeutic level of psychotropic medication.
- Medication groups often provide not only education, but also peer support to those taking psychotropic medication. Often clients and their families have misconceptions that are preventing the client from taking his or her medication.
- Depot injections (injections of medication into a body area where it will be deposited and stored) of antipsychotic medication can provide two to four weeks dosage of the medication to clients who have difficulty adhering to their medication schedule.
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