Psychotropic Medications and the Impact of Our Senses on Behavior

Physiological Psychology
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Introduction
Psychotropic medications are drugs that work on the body's central nervous system; hence, they affect the brain's functions. These medications can be grouped into; 1. Antidepressants, 2. Anti-anxiety medications, 3. Stimulants, 4. Antipsychotics, 5. Mood stabilizers. These medications work by modifying the chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters, which control emotions, moods, thoughts, and behavior. These drugs are prescribed to treat or manage a diagnosed mental disorder or illness like schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, or insomnia. These medications aim to treat or relieve an individual's symptoms by increasing or decreasing the level of some neurotransmitters to counter the effect of the illness. Psychotropic medications can do more harm than good if extra caution is not taken. (Tricklebank et al., 2021). These medications can have dangerous side effects and potential risks involving the withdrawal syndromes, i.e., withdrawal symptoms, persistent post-withdrawal disorders, and rebound symptoms, that a client has to consider before taking the medications 
Neurobiological basis of Psychopharmacology
Diathesis of many mental disorders and illnesses mainly lies in an individual's environmental and genetic predisposition. Psychopharmacology studies the therapeutic effects of psychotropic medications in treating mental disorders and promoting general health and well-being. Psychotropic medications work on the central nervous system, targeting neurotransmitters and receptors and changing the system's neuroplasticity. Disorders like schizophrenia or manic disorders are conditions mostly affected by genetics and environmental factors. Psychotropic medications target to change the structure and function of the neurons and, in turn, change the behavior and mental process. They work by altering the receptors, the transportation of chemical signals, and the enzymatic functions of the cells (Schulz & Steimer, 2022). These drugs can be selective or non-selective, i.e., they can target specific neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, or noradrenaline, while others work on all of them. 
Advantages of combining Psychotropic and Psychotherapy
Medication alone can help get rid of symptoms faster, but the recovery time can be hastened in combination with psychotherapy. Psychotherapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy or interpersonal therapy can help boost an individual's self-esteem, reduce anxiety, strengthen coping techniques, or improve social functioning. Therefore, giving an individual a chance to address their symptoms has shown notable improvements in cases that were termed severe, chronic, or complex.
Individuals with serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorders, or dipolar disorders may have difficulties adhering to medications. This can be due to the medications' side effects or a lack of self-efficacy. (Morris et al., 2021). Incorporating psychotherapy with psychotropic medications has shown improved adherence outcomes.
 Additionally, psychotherapy methods like genetic counseling have been show...