Explain why the use of psychiatric drugs has become so widespread in the United States. Provide examples of the disorders that these drugs target

Answer 1

At some point in their lives, about half of all Americans will take a psychiatric drug. The reason may be depression, anxiety, a sleep difficulty, an eating disorder, alcohol or drug dependence, impaired memory, or another disorder that disrupts the intricate chemistry of the brain.

Psychiatric medications account for almost 12 percent of drug prescriptions in the United States. Sedatives and hypnotics are the most widely prescribed, followed by antidepressants. Adverse reactions to psychiatric medications, including antidepressants, lead to about 90,000 visits to emergency departments every year.

Serotonin-boosting medications (SSRIs), the drugs of choice in treating depression, also are effective in treating obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, social phobia, posttraumatic stress disorder, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. In patients who don't respond, psychiatrists may add another drug to boost the efficacy of the treatment.