Mechanism of Action in Healthcare

Mechanism of Action in Healthcare Basics Print Mechanism of Action in Healthcare By Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and associate professor of psychology at Eastern Connecticut State University. Learn about our editorial policy Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 05, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on June 15, 2018 Christopher Furlong / Getty Images More in Psychology Basics Psychotherapy Student Resources History and Biographies Theories Phobias Emotions Sleep and Dreaming The term mechanism of action is a pharmacological term that you commonly hear associated with medications or drugs. Lets gain an understanding of what mechanism of action means, and provide examples within the context of health conditions. Definition Mechanism of action refers  to the biochemical process through which a drug produces its effect. Drugs bind to receptors, which are located on the surface of cells or within a cells cytoplasm â€" a jelly-like substance within a cell. When bound, the drug can act as either an agonist or an antagonist.  Agonist drugs activate the receptors they bind to, which either increases or decreases activity within the cell. Antagonist drugs, on the other hand, block the receptors so that natural agonists within the body cannot bind. Most drugs bind to a specific type of receptor, and this term is called receptor selectivity. The ability of a drug to bind to a certain receptor is based on its unique chemical structure. Examples   The mechanism of action of a medication is the specific biological process through which the medication causes a reduction in symptoms. For example, the mechanism of action of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, is well known. SSRIs inhibit the reuptake of serotonin. This increases the level of serotonin in the brain, which improves a persons mood. For some drugs, the mechanism of action is unknownâ€"so the drug works, but scientists are not sure exactly how it creates its therapeutic effect. An example of a medication with an unknown mechanism of action is lithium, a mood stabilizer used in the treatment of bipolar disorder. Other drugs have multiple known mechanisms of action, like caffeine. More on Mechanism of Action Sometimes the term mechanism of action is used to describe a non-drug treatment. For example, the mechanism of action of a psychosocial interventionâ€"like psychotherapyâ€"is the specific intervention that produces a change in a patients symptoms.  Experts propose that the mechanism of action of psychotherapy is based on the patient-therapist interaction, and how actively they participate in sessions. What This Means for You Its a good idea to understand the mechanism of action of any therapy you are receiving. This may help you conceptualize how the medication or therapy is supposed to help you get better.