Biomedical treatment and the treatment landscape
Treatment can also involve medication or medical procedures, and it is offered in many formats. This lesson is for learning about psychology, not for diagnosing yourself or anyone else; if you are struggling, talk to a qualified professional.
Medication
Psychiatrists and other prescribers may use medications. Antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) increase available serotonin. Antianxiety medications reduce anxiety symptoms. Antipsychotics reduce symptoms such as hallucinations. Mood stabilisers like lithium help with bipolar disorder. Medications can have side effects and are often most effective combined with psychotherapy.
Other biomedical approaches
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), delivered under anaesthesia, can help some people with severe depression that has not responded to other treatments. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) uses magnetic fields to stimulate brain areas. These treatments are carefully regulated and used for specific conditions.
Formats and access
Therapy can be individual, group, couples, or family therapy, and is increasingly offered online. Deinstitutionalisation, which began in the mid-twentieth century, moved many patients out of large psychiatric hospitals into community care. Barriers to treatment include cost, stigma, and shortages of providers; culturally sensitive care improves effectiveness.
Flashcard
An antidepressant that blocks serotonin reuptake
Check your understanding
A medication that increases serotonin availability by blocking its reuptake is a(n):