PSYC 3530 Chapter : 7. The Influence of Drugs and Hormones on Behavior.docx
11 Nov 2013
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The influence of drugs and hormones on behavior. Psychopharmacology is the study of how drugs affect the nervous system and behavior. A drug is a chemical compound that is administered to bring about some desired change in the body. Psychoactive drugs substances that act to alter mood, thought, or behavior and are used to manage neuropsychological illness: many psychoactive drugs are also substances of abuse. The way in which a drug enters and passes through the body to reach that target is called its route of administration. Soon after a drug is taken, the body begins to remove it. Drugs are metabolized throughout the body, but particularly in the kidneys, liver, and bile: they are excreted in urine, feces, sweat, breast milk, and exhaled air. Many metals, such as mercury, are not easily eliminated from the body and, when they accumulate there, they can cause severe neurological problems.
