Editing Psychopharmacology (section)

==Psychopharmacological research==
{{main|Psychoactive substances|Psychiatric medication}}
In psychopharmacology, researchers are interested in any substance that crosses the [[blood–brain barrier]] and thus has an effect on behavior, mood, or cognition. Drugs are researched for their physiochemical properties, physical [[adverse effect|side effects]], and psychological side effects. Researchers in psychopharmacology study a variety of different psychoactive substances, including alcohol, cannabinoids, [[club drug]]s, psychedelics, opiates, [[nicotine]], [[caffeine]], [[psychomotor stimulants]], [[inhalant]]s, and [[anabolic–androgenic steroid]]s. They also study drugs used in the treatment of affective and anxiety disorders, as well as [[schizophrenia]].

Clinical studies are often very specific, typically beginning with animal testing and ending with human testing. In the human testing phase, there is often a group of subjects: one group is given a placebo, and the other is administered a carefully measured [[therapeutic dose]] of the drug in question. After all of the testing is completed, the drug is proposed to the concerned regulatory authority (e.g. the U.S. [[FDA]]), and is either commercially introduced to the public via [[Medical prescription|prescription]], or deemed safe enough for [[Over-the-counter drug|over-the-counter]] sale.

Though particular drugs are prescribed for specific symptoms or syndromes, they are usually not specific to the treatment of any single mental disorder.

A somewhat controversial application of psychopharmacology is "cosmetic psychiatry": persons who do not meet criteria for any psychiatric disorder are nevertheless prescribed psychotropic medication. The antidepressant [[bupropion]] is then prescribed to increase perceived energy levels and assertiveness while diminishing the need for sleep. The antihypertensive compound [[propranolol]] is sometimes chosen to eliminate the discomfort of day-to-day anxiety. [[Fluoxetine]] in nondepressed people can produce a feeling of generalized well-being. [[Pramipexole]], a treatment for restless leg syndrome, can dramatically increase libido in women. These and other off-label lifestyle applications of medications are not uncommon. Although occasionally reported in the medical literature, no guidelines for such usage have been developed.<ref>{{Cite magazine| vauthors = Giannini AJ |date=June 2004|title=The Case for Cosmetic Psychiatry: Treatment Without Diagnosis|url=https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/dependent-personality-disorder/case-cosmetic-psychiatry-treatment-without-diagnosis|magazine=[[Psychiatric Times]]|volume=21|issue=7|pages=1–2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190117051806/https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/dependent-personality-disorder/case-cosmetic-psychiatry-treatment-without-diagnosis|archive-date=January 17, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> There is also a potential for the misuse of prescription psychoactive drugs by elderly persons, who may have multiple drug prescriptions.<ref>{{Cite journal| vauthors = Blow FC, Oslin DW, Barry KL |date=Spring 2002|title=Misuse of abuse of alcohol, illicit drugs, and psychoactive medication among older people|url=https://www.questia.com/library/journal/1P3-128577291/misuse-and-abuse-of-alcohol-illicit-drugs-and-psychoactive|journal=Generations|volume=26|issue=1|pages=50–54|issn=0738-7806}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Hilmer SN, McLachlan AJ, Le Couteur DG | title = Clinical pharmacology in the geriatric patient | journal = Fundamental & Clinical Pharmacology | volume = 21 | issue = 3 | pages = 217–230 | date = June 2007 | pmid = 17521291 | doi = 10.1111/j.1472-8206.2007.00473.x | doi-access = free }}</ref>