Psychopharmacology Glossary

An initial higher dose given to rapidly achieve therapeutic drug levels.

Monoamine oxidase inhibitor; an older class of antidepressants requiring strict dietary restrictions.

Cluster of cardiovascular risk factors including obesity, diabetes, and dyslipidemia, commonly associated with atypical...

Chemical compound produced when the body breaks down a medication.

An individual's genetic ability to metabolize medications, categorized as poor, intermediate, extensive, or ultrarapid m...

A class of psychiatric medications used to treat bipolar disorder and other mood disorders by reducing mood fluctuations...

Diminished or absent normal functions in psychiatric conditions, particularly schizophrenia, including reduced emotional...

An older term for antipsychotic medications, emphasizing their neurological effects.

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome - a rare but potentially fatal reaction to antipsychotic medications characterized by hyp...

Acute dystonic reaction characterized by involuntary upward deviation of the eyes, typically caused by antipsychotic med...

A drug that activates a receptor but produces a submaximal response even at full receptor occupancy.

The study of how genetic variations affect individual responses to psychiatric medications.

Drug interaction affecting the absorption, distribution, metabolism, or elimination of medications.

Systematic monitoring and evaluation of adverse effects and safety issues with medications.

The concentration of a medication in blood plasma, used for therapeutic monitoring.

Extent to which a medication attaches to proteins in blood plasma.

The simultaneous use of multiple medications, often referring to potentially inappropriate or excessive medication regim...

Psychotic symptoms representing additions to normal mental functioning, including hallucinations, delusions, and thought...

Early stage of psychotic illness characterized by subtle changes in cognition, perception, and behavior before full psyc...

An inactive compound that is metabolized in the body to produce the active drug.

Parkinsonian symptoms caused by medications rather than neurodegenerative disease, particularly antipsychotics blocking...

Structured educational intervention providing patients and families with information about mental illness, treatment opt...

Study of genetic factors affecting individual responses to psychiatric medications.

Relating to drugs that affect mental state, emotions, and behavior by acting on the central nervous system.