Medications Side Effects For Poor Mental Health

Mar 15, 2026 Features / Columnists, News

---

By Dr. Telford Layne Jr. PsyD, MSc. Postgrad, BSc.
Clinical and Developmental Psychologist – Psychoanalyst
Unwrapping Gift – Clinic

(Kaieteur News) – I am alarmed at the growing number of new patients struggling with poor mental health, having been using medications for years, without knowing what their diagnosis is, the duration of inhibiting these medications, and what the side effects of these medications are. Their mental health is now worse. I want to advise to discontinue these medications unless your psychiatrist or psychologist can tell you what your diagnosis is and the duration of medication treatment. Its side effects and alternative treatment. So that you can be knowledgeable and well-informed to make sound decisions about your mental health and life, it is unethical and unprofessional for any mental health professional or doctor to administer medication without the client being made absolutely aware of the psychoactive drugs they are taking.

Mental Health Professionals

A psychologist is a licensed mental health professional. International standards dictate that a psychologist must have a psychology education, typically a 3–5-year doctoral degree (PsyD or PhD), and undergo clinical training with at least 2000 supervised hours. Apart from a 2-year master’s degree and 3 to 4 years of first degree studies in psychology- human behaviour, emotions, and mental processes. Psychologists conduct assessments, diagnose and treat mental health, personality, developmental disorders and other psychological imbalances from working in clinics, hospitals, or private practice and using several psychotherapy techniques. In some jurisdictions, psychologists cannot prescribe medication, but they work with psychiatrists for comprehensive care. In Guyana, a psychologist can practice with a diploma.

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (MD or DO) specialising in mental health, including substance use disorders. They are qualified to assess both the mental and physical aspects of psychological problems, diagnose mental health conditions, and provide treatment through medication management, psychotherapy, and other medical interventions like neurostimulation. Unlike psychologists, psychiatrists are physicians who have completed medical school and residency, allowing them to order lab tests, perform physical exams, and prescribe medication. They use a medical approach, often combining medication (e.g., antidepressants, mood stabilisers) with psychotherapy. Psychiatrists treat complex, long-term, or acute mental health disorders, including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, severe anxiety, and PTSD.

A Psychiatrist often works alongside psychologists, social workers, and nurses while managing and administering medication. The natural order of things is that when someone is in a psychotic state, they see a psychiatrist who administers medication (psychoactive drugs to stabilise patients by addressing the symptoms. Once this is under control, it will be in a matter of a few days to a week. The patients are now receptive to psychotherapy. Free from irrational and disorganised speech, hallucination, sleeplessness, etc. At this point, the patients began seeing a psychologist with little or no medication management.

Ethical Code of Conduct- Disclosure and Informed consent

The ethical codes for mental health professionals (APA, ACA, NASW) mandate that professionals disclose diagnoses and the effects of medication to clients to promote autonomy, informed consent, and beneficence. Professionals are required to use clear, understandable language to explain the nature of services, potential risks, and benefits of treatments.

Informed consent must be preceded by disclosure of sufficient information. Consent can be challenged on the ground that adequate information has not been disclosed to enable the patient to make an informed decision. Therefore, accurate, adequate and relevant information must be provided truthfully in a form (using non-scientific terms) and language that the patient can understand. It cannot be a patient’s signature on a dotted line obtained routinely by a staff member.

The information disclosed before one accepts and begins using that medication should include: the condition/disorder/disease the patient is having/suffering from. Necessity for further testing. Natural course of the condition and possible complications. Consequences of non-treatment. Treatment options are available. Potential risks and benefits of treatment options.  Duration and approximate cost of treatment. Expected outcome. Follow-up required

As a psychologist, my first duty is to observe, describe, explain, and control (treat). It starts with an assessment, followed by a diagnosis, and then a psychological report outlining the findings, the meaning of the diagnosis, its origin and symptoms, and a suggested psychotherapy approach. The clients ask questions and, when clear, accept or suggest an alternative approach. At no time does a psychologist or mental health professional begin treating a patient without the patient’s consent regarding the method of treatment. The same must be followed for medicine.

Psychoactive drugs and its impact

Psychoactive drugs (also called psychiatric medications or psychotropic substances) are chemical substances that change how the brain works, resulting in alterations to mood, thoughts, awareness, feelings, or behaviour. They primarily affect the central nervous system (CNS) by modulating neurotransmitters—chemical messengers such as dopamine, serotonin, and GABA—that regulate emotional and physical responses. In a nutshell, these medications work by changing the chemical makeup of the brain and nervous system to alter mood, thoughts, behaviour, or perception. Over time, these medications actually change the size, shape, and structure of the brain.

This medication includes Antidepressants, Antipsychotics, Anxiolytics, Mood Stabilisers, Stimulants, etc. They are generally used to reduce symptoms and improve daily functioning, often in combination with psychotherapy. They can have significant side effects, including neurotoxicity, withdrawal, and, in some cases, serious metabolic changes or dependency.

Psychoactive drugs do not address the cause of the symptoms that psychotherapy does. Psychoactive drug treatment should be initiated when a qualified healthcare provider determines that symptoms of a mental health condition are psychotic (severe) or unmanaged by psychotherapy and lifestyle. These medications are designed to manage symptoms—not cure underlying conditions—and are typically used when they interfere significantly with daily functioning, such as work, school, or relationships. For children under 12, taking these medications is a no for me, except if the child has psychosis, where 3 to 6 days of medication is enough to begin using psychotherapy to address the cause. The depression from divorce or anxiety from unresolved childhood trauma will not be cured or corrected with medication.

Look at an advertisement from the United States; the benefits of the medication are mentioned in the same line as the side effects. One can be taking medication for anxiety, but the side effects are depression, paranoia, insomnia, liver damage, altered perception, etc. If after taking certain medication and our body becomes immune, let your mental health provider advise you, they will change the dosage or offer a new type of medication with the statement, “try this and let us see how it works”. Psychotherapy addresses the causes of the symptoms and restores quality of life.

Only you can protect your mental health; you have the last say and the power to bring about changes. Demand for your mental health professional’s ethical services

---

• 'Side Effects, Medications, mental health, poor mental health, Telford Layne

---