Psychiatric Disorders Treated With Drugs
Psychiatric Disorders Treated With Drugs
Dec 13
In the treatment of many psychiatric disorders, injectable and implantable drugs and devices are popular choices, particularly where there is a concern that the patient will not take their medication correctly or regularly, which could put their mental health at risk.
Often in psychiatric cases, when the patient is stabilised on medication, they will feel better, so think that as they are better, there is no need to continue taking the medication. Stopping anti-psychotics will often cause relapses, resulting severe distress to the patient and often, admission into hospital. However, the use of injectable and implantable drugs and devices can help prevent this occurring, as the patient will need to attend a clinic every week or fortnight to have their depot injection administered into the gluteus muscle, therefore keeping them in regular contact with healthcare professionals and ensuring that they comply with their treatment.
Similarly, non-compliance with oral medication can be caused due to unwanted side-effects, in particular extra-pyramidal symptoms, meaning that the patient feels better not taking it. Therefore injectable and implantable drugs and devices mean that the patient will not be able to stop their medication abruptly and can meet their healthcare professional regularly, giving them more opportunities to discuss the problems.
