Clinical Psychopharmacology and Toxicology

A special issue of Medicines (ISSN 2305-6320).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 1624

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
Interests: psychotropic drugs; psychoactive substances; clinical toxicology; clinical pharmacology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We encourage you to participate in the upcoming Special Issue and submit their research work in order to contribute to the expansion of rather limited knowledge on the therapeutic use of psychotropic medication, in addition to well-known traditional psychological/psychiatric interventions, for the treatment of mental disorders and promotion of overall patient health and well-being, as well as on overdoses with (il)legal psychoactive substances (including novel compounds).  

This Special Issue aims to collect at least 10 valuable papers focused on the topic of Clinical Psychopharmacology and Toxicology. Authors may consider contributing a manuscript that focuses on current issues regarding pharmacological, clinical, and toxicological aspects of psychotropic drugs and psychoactive substances. 

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome to be submitted. Research areas may include, but are not limited to, the following: clinical psychopharmacology, clinical toxicology, psychotropic drugs, psychoactive substances, and psychiatry. 

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Vesna Mijatović-Jovin
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Medicines is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • psychotropic drugs
  • psychoactive substances
  • novel psychoactive substances
  • pharmacology
  • toxicology
  • overdose
  • suicide
  • suicide attempt

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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15 pages, 453 KiB  
Article
New Synthetic Compounds with Psychoactive Action—Preliminary Results Among Primary and High School Students on the Territory of Novi Sad
by Igor Kelečević, Ljubica Gugleta, Ana-Marija Vejnović and Vesna Mijatović Jovin
Medicines 2025, 12(1), 6; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicines12010006 - 14 Mar 2025
Viewed by 784
Abstract
Introduction: Novel psychoactive substances (NPSs) are substances not controlled by the United Nations’ 1961 Narcotic Drugs and 1971 Psychotropic Substances convention, which pose a threat to public health. The use of NPSs is growing among recreational drug users. NPSs mimic the effects of [...] Read more.
Introduction: Novel psychoactive substances (NPSs) are substances not controlled by the United Nations’ 1961 Narcotic Drugs and 1971 Psychotropic Substances convention, which pose a threat to public health. The use of NPSs is growing among recreational drug users. NPSs mimic the effects of the existing illegal drugs; they are used as substitutes for the traditional drugs of use. NPSs are commonly marketed as safe substances. NPS abuse is especially risky among vulnerable individuals, such as children and adolescents. The Aim: This study aims to analyze the knowledge and attitudes of primary and high school students regarding NPSs, determining the frequency and patterns of NPS use, and examine motivational factors for their consumption. Methodology: The questionnaire was employed to primary and secondary school students of the city of Novi Sad in November 2024. The data were analyzed using the methods of descriptive and inferential statistics in the statistical software package JASP 0.18.1.0. Results: A total of 1095 participants took part in the survey (53.6% males and 46.4% females). The age range of participants was 11–18 years (mean age 14.637 years). The majority of pupils lived in the city (70.5%). The most numerous students were students with the highest overall grade. The proportion of students who were familiar with NPSs was 38.3%, while 61.7% of them were not aware of their existence. Living in cities correlated positively with the NPS knowledge. The NPS risk awareness was notably low. The proportion of students who tried one or more novel drugs was 1.918%. Conclusions: The abuse of novel psychoactive substances is a growing concern, particularly among young individuals, requiring increased awareness and education on their risks. Educational systems should provide accurate information to prevent false beliefs, while policymakers must legally regulate new drugs. A coordinated approach is crucial for effective prevention, involving education, media, and support from different organizations. Future studies should focus on the impact of education on attitudes towards NPSs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Psychopharmacology and Toxicology)
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15 pages, 283 KiB  
Systematic Review
Breaking the Stigma: A Systematic Review of Antipsychotic Efficacy in Children and Adolescents with Behavioral Disorders
by Nuno Sanfins, Pedro Andrade and Jacinto Azevedo
Medicines 2025, 12(3), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicines12030015 - 23 Jun 2025
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder (CD) are important behavior disorders in children and adolescents, often linked with long-term psychosocial problems. Antipsychotics are frequently prescribed to manage severe symptoms and improve behavior, but their efficacy in this population is still [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder (CD) are important behavior disorders in children and adolescents, often linked with long-term psychosocial problems. Antipsychotics are frequently prescribed to manage severe symptoms and improve behavior, but their efficacy in this population is still unclear and a lot of physicians are remittent in prescribing them. This systematic review aims to assess the effectiveness of antipsychotic treatment in reducing symptoms associated with ODD and CD in children and adolescents. Methods: Studies that investigated how effective antipsychotic treatments are for children and teens diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder (CD) were reviewed. Only studies that met a few main criteria were included: participants were between 5 and 18 years old with an ODD or CD diagnosis; the treatment could be any type of antipsychotic, whether typical or atypical; the accepted study designs were randomized controlled trials (RCTs), cohort studies, systematic reviews with meta-analysis, or observational studies. The outcomes of interest were reductions in aggressive or defiant behaviors, improvements in social functioning, and the occurrence of any adverse effects from the medications. There was no restriction on the language of publication, and studies published from 2000 to 2024 were considered. Studies that focused only on non-antipsychotic drugs or behavioral therapies, as well as case reports, expert opinions, and non-peer-reviewed articles did not meet the inclusion criteria. Results: The review consisted of 13 studies. The results suggest that some antipsychotic drugs—especially atypical antipsychotics—can substantially reduce aggressive and defiant behavior in children and adolescents who have oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) or conduct disorder (CD). Common side effects of these medications include weight gain, sedation, and metabolic problems. Conclusions: Although adverse effects are a concern, the potential of these medications to manage disruptive behaviors should not be overlooked. When used in combination with behavioral therapy and other forms of treatment, antipsychotics can markedly improve the outcomes of these very difficult-to-treat patients. Clinicians who treat these patients need to consider antipsychotics as a serious option. If they do not, they are denying their patients medication that could greatly benefit them. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Psychopharmacology and Toxicology)
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