According to the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology (ASCP), psychopharmacology is the study of the use of medications in treating mental disorders.  The complexity of this field requires continuous study in order to keep current with new advances.  Psychopharmacologists need to understand all the clinically relevant principles of pharmacokinetics (what the body does to medication) and pharmacodynamics (what the medications do to the body).  This includes an understanding of the following.

• Protein binding (how available the medication is to the body)

• Half-life (how long the medication stays in the body)

• Polymorphic genes (genes which vary widely from person to person)

• Drug-to-drug interactions (how medications affect one another)

Since the use of these medications is to treat mental disorders, an extensive understanding of basic neuroscience, basic psychopharmacology, clinical medicine, the differential diagnosis of mental disorders, and treatment options is required.  Psychopharmacologists also must be skilled in building and utilizing a therapeutic alliance with the patient.  In a generic sense, any Nurse Practitioner or Doctor who treats patients with psychotropic medication is a psychopharmacologist.