Anyone can develop a mental illness—you, a family member, a friend, or a neighbor. Some disorders are mild; others are serious and long-lasting. These conditions can be diagnosed and treated. Most people can live better lives after treatment. And psychotherapeutic medications are an increasingly important element in the successful treatment of mental illness.
Medications for mental illnesses were first introduced in the early 1950s with the antipsychotic chlorpromazine. Other medications to treat all types of mental illness have followed. These medications have changed the lives of people with these disorders for the better.
During the 1990s, great strides in understanding mental illness were made and more effective psychotropic medications were developed. This time period has been called the”Decade of the Brain”. Discoveries made during
For information on the specific medications used to treat different types of mental illness, and their side effects, visit The National Institute of Mental Health.