4.1.1 History and evolution of psychotropic compounds

Outline Knowledge of the History and Evolution of Psychotropic Compounds

The history and evolution of psychotropics can be traced back to ancient civilizations, where substances such as opium, cannabis, and alcohol were used for medicinal and recreational purposes. Over time, the use of these substances evolved, and new compounds were discovered that had more specific and potent effects on the brain and behaviour.

In the 19th century, advances in chemistry and pharmacology led to the synthesis of various new psychotropics, including chloral hydrate, barbiturates, and bromides. These compounds were widely used as hypnotics, sedatives, and anxiolytics, and were widely prescribed for various medical conditions, including anxiety, insomnia, and epilepsy.

In the mid-20th century, the discovery of LSD, a powerful hallucinogenic, sparked interest in the use of psychotropics for psychiatric treatment. This led to the development of other psychotropics, including mescaline, psilocybin, and other psychedelics, which were initially used for the treatment of a variety of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia.

In the 1950s and 1960s, the introduction of the first generation of antidepressants, including imipramine and amitriptyline, marked a significant milestone in the history of psychotropics. These drugs revolutionized the treatment of depression and other mood disorders and paved the way for the development of a wide range of other psychotropics, including monoamine oxidase inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

In the last few decades, the development of new psychotropics, such as atypical antipsychotics, has expanded the range of treatment options available for a variety of mental health conditions. At the same time, advances in neuroimaging and neuropsychology have helped to deepen our understanding of the brain mechanisms that underlie the effects of psychotropics and have led to the development of new and more effective treatment strategies (Kline, 2015).

(Ban, 2017)

References:

(1) Ban, T. A. (2017). A brief history of psychotropics. In The Neuropsychology of Mental Illness (pp. 1-12). Cambridge University Press.

(2) Kline, N. S. (2015). Handbook of psychotropic drugs. Springer.