Psychopharmacology: Examine the Emerging Pharmaceutical Treatments for Mental Health Conditions and their Effectiveness Compared to Traditional Medication

Psychedelic medications and cannabinoids are emerging as effective treatments for major depressive disorder, treatment-resistant depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, though they produce mild adverse effects. This conclusion comes from a review of 16 studies comparing new pharmaceutical interventions against mental illnesses.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Study background: Mental health poses health, economic, and social burdens worldwide. The existing pharmaceutical interventions against mental diseases produce undesirable adverse effects, creating the need for the exploration of new treatments for more effective medications that do not yield adverse effects. Methods: The present review involved a literature search from electronic databases, including PubMed, ProQuest, Google Scholar, eb of science, and PsycINFO, and was conducted based on the Patient, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes, and Studies (PICOS), protocol, and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist. Two independent reviewers were assigned study selection and data collection processes that included 16 studies in the review. Results: A review comparing the effectiveness of emerging pharmaceutical interventions against mental illnesses found that the psychedelic class of medications and cannabinoids are emerging effective medications against mental illnesses, including Major Depressive Disorders (MDD), patients with Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD), and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD). However, the medications produce mild adverse effects. Keywords - Emerging mental health treatments, Effective medications, traditional medicines, mental health, Psychomarmacology treatment, Psychopharmacology efficacy.