Final answer:
Psychopharmacology, dealing with psychotropic drugs' effects on the brain, emerged in the mid-20th century and involves complex drug development processes utilizing pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics before FDA approval.
Step-by-step explanation:
Psychopharmacology is a field of medicine that studies the development and use of psychotropic drugs. These drugs, which affect brain chemistry usually as agonists or antagonists of neurotransmitters, started to be developed around the mid-20th century. The process of drug development is complex and consists of several stages involving pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and toxicological evaluation, often beginning with in vitro analysis and moving on to animal studies before proceeding to human trials and ultimate approval by regulatory bodies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Psychoactive drugs are often used for therapeutic purposes, but misuse can lead to addiction and dependence, requiring rehabilitation and sometimes the use of other psychoactive substances in treatment. Understanding the effects of drugs on both the nervous system and the endocrine system is crucial in the development of effective treatments and the management of potential abuse.