Chapter 3, Problem 1Q

Summary Introduction

Introduction

Psychotropic drugs are used as a part of the psychiatric treatment of mental disorders. These drugs affect the mental state, emotions, perceptions, and behavior of a person. The most common disorders treated with psychotropic medications are schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and borderline personality disorders. However, the overuse of these drugs can cause people to rely more on drugs as a solution to even the smallest of issues.

Explanation of Solution

Suggested response

One consideration might be that psychotropic drugs were originally intended to relieve intense anxiety and treat mood disorders, along with psychotherapeutic treatment. Anti-anxiety medications, anti-panic medications, or mood stabilizers are certain legal psychotropic medicines.

However, the persuasive advertisement of these medications as well as the persistent emphasis on the effectiveness of these drugs have distorted people's perception about their normal use. Therefore, it has weakened people's perception about their own self-efficacy to improve their mental states, and consequently, it has become normal to over-rely on psychotropic medications.

Psychotropic medications are meant to control severe mood swings or extremely aggressive episodes, which would help people regulate intense emotions and learn coping skills through psychotherapy for an optimal and functional coping mechanism. However, people can rely more on psychotropic medications than learning skills to regulate their thoughts and emotions. They show dependence on external factors, such as drugs, to deal with their mental issues.

This common tendency to choose over-the-counter drugs for instant relief over therapeutic coaching, which requires effort on the part of the client, shows that humans tend to rely on quick and effortless relief.