Psychological issues in treatment of the "chemical imbalance"

Recent advances in neuroscience and psychopharmacology have been tremendously effective in expanding our ability to help our patients. However, these techniques too are limited and in our excitement at the advance of science and under the increasing pressures for simple answers and rapid treatment we must be careful not to ignore our patients' intrapsychic lives. Failing to consider the psychodynamic implications of the chemical imbalance and of prescribing medications sets the stage for the transference to be repetitively acted out around medication issues. By taking a psychodynamically informed approach to the treatment of patients the psychiatrist is prepared to provide comprehensive care and make better decisions regarding the appropriateness or timing of medications and may avoid participating in the patients' repetitions.