Behavioral medication is a field of science that applies biomedical science knowledge to prevent, diagnose, and treat disorders that affect the development, behavior, and psychological mindsets of diagnosed individuals in order to improve mental health and reduce major symptoms. This includes anxiety, depression, asthma, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, and substance abuse (Behavioral Medicine). However, treatments are expensive and prescribed medications do not work for everyone. In fact, a study in 2005 revealed that the annual cost of illness for patients diagnosed with Attention-deficit hypertension disorder (ADHD) was between 32 billion and 52 billion dollars (New Data: Medication and Behavior Treatment). Also, some medications, such as antidepressants,
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The field of behavioral medication is important as it has been reported that three out of ten causes of disability are mental disorders, most mental disorders begin in childhood, and one-fifth of children meet the criteria to be diagnosed with a mental disorder (Mental Health By the Numbers).
The first behavioral medicine laboratory opened in the University of Pennsylvania in 1974 by John Paul Brady and Ovide Pomerleau, following the publications of many studies on heart disease and prevention. Three years later, the Yale Conference on Behavioral Medicine met in order to establish a definition and statement of goals for the field of behavioral medicine. This helped guide scientists in a beneficial direction in order to understand more about behavioral medications. The following year, the Society of Behavioral Medicine was established. Their purpose was to help further the advancement of behavioral medications by funding important research programs, such as the National Institutes of Health, …show more content…
These interventions have been known to lower blood pressure, cholesterol levels, body fat and improve sleep, academic performance, and productivity at work and in school (Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit (BPRU)). However, researchers have not been able to create a medication that alleviates the communication difficulties, social challenges, and repetitive behavior associated with Autism. Not enough research has been provided for researchers to be able to create medicine to fix these problems. in fact, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has only approved of two drugs to reduce irritability in autistic patients (Medicines for Treating Autism 's Core Symptoms). Along with this setback, there are currently no medications that work for everybody in order to treat the symptoms of Autism or ADHD. This is because medicine does not work the same for everybody and some patients that are prescribed the maximum dosage of a medication are still not experiencing relief. The severity of the disorder exceeds the approved maximum dosage of the medication. These setbacks have caused for researchers to experiment with alternative medications (Black, R). Instead of using stimulants to treat ADHD, scientists have discovered non-stimulant medications, such as Atomoxetine, that work just as effectively as stimulants, but without the alteration of Dopamine levels (Christman).
The field of behavioral medication is important as it has been reported that three out of ten causes of disability are mental disorders, most mental disorders begin in childhood, and one-fifth of children meet the criteria to be diagnosed with a mental disorder (Mental Health By the Numbers).
The first behavioral medicine laboratory opened in the University of Pennsylvania in 1974 by John Paul Brady and Ovide Pomerleau, following the publications of many studies on heart disease and prevention. Three years later, the Yale Conference on Behavioral Medicine met in order to establish a definition and statement of goals for the field of behavioral medicine. This helped guide scientists in a beneficial direction in order to understand more about behavioral medications. The following year, the Society of Behavioral Medicine was established. Their purpose was to help further the advancement of behavioral medications by funding important research programs, such as the National Institutes of Health, …show more content…
These interventions have been known to lower blood pressure, cholesterol levels, body fat and improve sleep, academic performance, and productivity at work and in school (Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit (BPRU)). However, researchers have not been able to create a medication that alleviates the communication difficulties, social challenges, and repetitive behavior associated with Autism. Not enough research has been provided for researchers to be able to create medicine to fix these problems. in fact, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has only approved of two drugs to reduce irritability in autistic patients (Medicines for Treating Autism 's Core Symptoms). Along with this setback, there are currently no medications that work for everybody in order to treat the symptoms of Autism or ADHD. This is because medicine does not work the same for everybody and some patients that are prescribed the maximum dosage of a medication are still not experiencing relief. The severity of the disorder exceeds the approved maximum dosage of the medication. These setbacks have caused for researchers to experiment with alternative medications (Black, R). Instead of using stimulants to treat ADHD, scientists have discovered non-stimulant medications, such as Atomoxetine, that work just as effectively as stimulants, but without the alteration of Dopamine levels (Christman).