Treatments: Psychopharmacology

Psychopharmacology is the name given to the practice of studying and using pharmacological agents that affect mental and emotional functions.

The term is usually applied more specifically to drugs used in the control of psychiatric illnesses, namely the antipsychotic, antianxiety, antidepressant, and antimanic medications. The widespread use of drugs among individuals suffering from mental illness is a relatively recent phenomenon, developing since the 1950s.

Medications can be an important part of a treatment plan in some patients, but not all. Some patients may choose to be in psychological treatment or individual therapy from an external therapist and in this case Dr. Oddy functions in a collaborative role, as a psychopharmacologist, working as a team member with the patient and therapist(s) as other members of the team.

Dr. Oddy has an extensive pre-clinical background in pharmacology, neuropharmacology, and up-to-date clinical experience with psychotropic medications.