psychopharmacology

American  

[sahy-koh-fahr-muh-kol-uh-jee] / ˌsaɪ koʊˌfɑr məˈkɒl ə dʒi /

noun

1. the branch of pharmacology dealing with the psychological effects of drugs.

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psychopharmacology British  

/ ˌsaɪkəʊˌfɑːməˈkɒlədʒɪ /

noun

1. the study of drugs that affect the mind

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psychopharmacology Scientific  

/ sī′kō-fär′mə-kŏl′ə-jē /

1. The study and clinical use of drugs that affect the mind, especially those that are used to treat psychiatric disorders.

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Other Word Forms

• psychopharmacologist
  noun
• psychopharmacologic
  adjective
• psychopharmacological
  adjective
• psychopharmacologically
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of psychopharmacology

First recorded in 1915–20; psycho- + pharmacology

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

psychopharmacology

Silver-Fajardo is majoring in neuropsychology, wrote her aunt, who added that she is “fascinated by the human brain” and “hopes to pursue work involving brain research, psychopharmacology, and behavioral health.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2026

Professor Ciara McCabe is a neuroscience, psychopharmacology, and mental health expert at the University of Reading.

From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026

Having set up a psychoanalytic framework, “The Age of Guilt” moves on to brief consideration of a range of topics of contemporary interest: psychopharmacology, identity, patriarchy, race.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 27, 2023

“They’re turned into mechanics, dispensing psychopharmacology over a 72-hour period, or a one-week period, and then, ‘My job is done.’”

From New York Times ● Feb. 5, 2022

Other evidence for the rewarding nature of human bonding comes from psychopharmacology.

From Salon ● May 31, 2021

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