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Psychosis and Antipsychotic Drugs: Overview

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The term "psychosis" refers to a spectrum of mental disorders characterized by abnormal thoughts, perceptions, and behaviors. It can manifest as mood disorders, dementia, delirium with psychotic features, substance-induced psychosis with psychotic features, brief psychotic disorder, delusional disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and schizophrenia. Among all these disorders, schizophrenia is the most common psychotic disorder, affecting 1% of the worldwide population. Psychotic...

Types of Toxins

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Antipsychotic drugs are a crucial treatment method for acute and chronic psychoses, bipolar illness, and behavioral disorders. The selection of these drugs depends on several factors, including the state of the disease, clinical judgment, possible drug interactions, and the patient's sensitivity to adverse effects. In immediate scenarios, such as delirium and dementia, short-term treatment with low doses of high-potency typical or atypical agents can effectively manage symptom exacerbation.

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Antipsychotic drugs primarily block dopamine and serotonin receptors and cholinergic, adrenergic, and histaminergic receptors, thereby reducing hallucinations and delusions in conditions like schizophrenia. However, they can trigger unwanted extrapyramidal effects such as dystonias, Parkinson-like symptoms, and tardive dyskinesia.
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Related Experiment Video

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Studying Neurobehavioral Effects of Environmental Pollutants on Zebrafish Larvae

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Published on: February 5, 2020

Environmental pollution with psychiatric drugs.

Julene Argaluza¹, Saioa Domingo-Echaburu², Gorka Orive³

¹Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Bioaraba Health Research Institute, Vitoria-Gasteiz 01002, Spain.

World Journal of Psychiatry

|November 4, 2021

Summary

Drug pollution, especially from psychiatric medications, poses a significant environmental and health risk. Current wastewater treatment fails to remove these contaminants, necessitating better drug management and advanced purification systems.

Keywords:

Antidepressants Antipsychotics Drug pollution Ecotoxicity Pharmaceuticals in the environment Wastewater

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Area of Science:

Environmental Chemistry
Ecotoxicology
Pharmaceutical Science

Background:

Drugs are emerging contaminants of high concern due to their widespread release into the environment.
Psychiatric drugs are particularly worrisome due to increasing usage and potential effects on conserved neuroendocrine systems in non-target organisms.
Wastewater is a primary source of drug pollution, with conventional treatment plants unable to effectively remove these compounds.

Purpose of the Study:

To discuss the main aspects of drug pollution, with a focus on psychiatric drugs.
To highlight the ecotoxicological risks and challenges associated with pharmaceutical contaminants in the environment.
To explore potential solutions for mitigating drug pollution.

Main Methods:

Literature review and discussion of existing scientific knowledge on drug pollution.
Analysis of drug entry points, environmental fate, and ecotoxicological impacts.
Evaluation of current and proposed mitigation strategies.

Main Results:

Drugs, including psychiatric medications, contaminate various environmental matrices and can affect non-target organisms and human health.
Antidepressants and antipsychotics have shown potential for bioaccumulation in food chains.
Existing wastewater treatment plants are insufficient for removing pharmaceutical residues.

Conclusions:

Drug pollution is a complex issue requiring a multi-faceted approach, including source reduction and improved end-of-pipe treatments.
Rational drug use, eco-prescribing, and the development of biodegradable pharmaceuticals are crucial.
Enhanced wastewater treatment technologies and interdisciplinary collaboration are essential for addressing this environmental challenge.