Instructions

**SEE THE APA, EXAMPLE PAPER PREPARATION ASSIGNMENT, AND GRADING RUBRIC BELOW BEFORE YOU BEGIN**

Pick from the following classification of psychotropic medications and then choose a drug within that classification.

• Antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs, Atypical Antidepressants TCAs, MAOIs)
• Anxiolytics
• Antipsychotics
• Psychostimulants
• Mood stabilizers
• Off-label medications that treat symptomologies of mental health conditions

The week two assignment is due Sunday of week two. Your week two assignment should be a minimum of three pages and more than five in length (this does not include the cover and reference pages). Your assignment must include the following APA requirements:

• Cover page
• Times New Roman
• 12 font only
• Subheadings
• In-text citations
• Page numbers
• Double spaced
• Reference page

Instructions:

I'd like you to please develop a thesis statement that will drive your assignment topic. You can find examples in the APUS library or the announcements area of the classroom.

Topic: Select one of the psychotropic classifications of interest from the list above and choose a drug. Provide the history and brief background of the chosen psychotropic, what it is used for, how it works (i.e., mechanism of action), receptor sites the drug targets, and the drug's primary effect. Discuss the subclassification (e.g., if you choose fluoxetine, an antidepressant, its subclassification is an SSRI; therefore, you will discuss the background of SSRIs) of the psychotropic and provide a critical analysis of why it is used over other drugs (or if it is not commonly used, explain why). Also, provide if the FDA approves the drug and, if so, the date and the Agency's approved use. If the FDA did not approve it, explain why and if it is used for non-FDA drug use (i.e., off-label). Also, ensure to include side effects, adverse effects, and contraindications or drug-to-drug interactions of the psychotropic. Further, discuss how the drug impacts children, adolescents, and older adults and how to minimize complications of the drugs based on the population. Finally, provide a conclusion on the importance of the drug and how it is essential to the clinical psychological and psychopharmacology fields.

You must include at least four peer-reviewed sources to support and substantiate your work. If you use additional resources, they must be academically grounded and scholarly. All sources must be within five years or newer.

Annotated Bibliography: For this portion, students must identify four peer-reviewed journals or other journals with reliable information (do not use sources from the secular press, i.e., Psychology Today, Simply Psychology, Very Well Mind, Time, Newsweek, Parent's Today, etc.). Ask your instructor if it is an acceptable source when in doubt. In these journals, the research and information are either reviewed by an editorial team (such as for the Harvard Business Review) or a group of peers (such as in many journals you find through the APU online library).Research cannot be older than 5 years. Nonetheless, the annotated bibliography should include the purpose of the study, method, significant findings, and significance to the field.

Therefore, your assignment should have the three subheadings:

• Topic
• Thesis Statement
• Annotated Bibliography
  • Again, please see the attached template for assistance with how to formulate your paper.

NOTE: Sources such as WebMD, Wikipedia, Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, Cherry, Psychology Today, Simply Psychology, Parent's Day, news articles, op-eds, blogs, and encyclopedias are not scholarly sources and should not be used. When in doubt, ask your professor if it is an acceptable source. In these journals, the research and information are either reviewed by an editorial team (such as for the Harvard Business Review) or a group of peers (such as in many journals you find through the APU online library).

This assignment aims to assist you in developing research analysis skills, including critical thinking, writing, and literature research skills.

This paper must be written through a biological lens. Meaning a discussion of the genetic/biological origin and treatments is required. Do not include non-biologically-based treatment methods such as counseling, therapy, support groups, etc.