Describe the four main classes of drugs used in the treatment of mental and emotional disorders, including the benefits and drawbacks of each. For which disorders would each class be prescribed?

What will be an ideal response?

Answer: A good answer will include the following key points.
• Antipsychotic medications (neuroleptics) are prescribed for the treatment of schizophrenia and other psychoses.
o Benefits—reduction of agitation, delusions, and hallucinations; shorten schizophrenic episodes
o Drawbacks—little relief from other symptoms; may cause side effects like tardive dyskinesia and other motor side effects; other effects might include weight gain, strokes, and even death from heart failure. Unpleasant side effects may result in failure to continue taking medication.
• Antidepressant medications are prescribed for the treatment of depression, anxiety, phobias, and obsessive-compulsive disorders.
o Benefits—relatively effective in relieving depression and anxiety
o Drawbacks—unpleasant physical reactions including dry mouth, headaches, constipation, nausea, restlessness, gastrointestinal problems, weight gain, and decreased sexual desire and blocked or delayed orgasm; MAOIs may interact with certain foods and produce dangerously high blood pressure; SSRIs may increase suicide risk in adolescents
• Tranquilizers are prescribed to treat mild anxiety.
o Benefits—reduce anxiety; also help people with panic disorder and acute anxiety attacks in the short term
o Drawbacks—symptoms often return when medication is stopped; problems with tolerance, addiction, and withdrawal
• Lithium carbonate is prescribed for the treatment of bipolar disorder.
o Benefits—successful in many cases
o Drawback—can be highly toxic if dosage is too high; produces short-term side effects and long-term problems such as kidney failure