Edición N°20 – Artículo 11
Sin químicos y sin límites, alternativas para tratar la salud mental
Chemical-Free and without limits: Alternatives for mental health treatment
Autoras: Débora Anabel Solano Aguayza, Lisseth Anahí Vásquez Aguayza, Fátima Gabriela Cumbico Siguencia, Shirley Lilibeth Fernández Fernández (Unidad Educativa Fiscomisional La Salle)
Resumen
“La industria farmacéutica ha creado medicamentos que no curan, sino que convierten a los pacientes en consumidores de por vida” [1]. Esto nos resume uno de los problemas más comunes de los usos de fármacos en los tratamientos mentales: si bien su eficiencia se ve reflejada al disminuir síntomas, su consumo sin una prescripción médica regulada puede llegar a desarrollar dependencia y efectos adversos. En la actualidad la salud mental es un aspecto fundamental para el bienestar de cada persona ya que esto influye radicalmente en la calidad de vida, las relaciones interpersonales y el desempeño diario. En la práctica clínica, los trastornos mentales suelen abordarse mediante diversas estrategias, entre ellas el uso de fármacos psicotrópicos, los cuales han demostrado eficacia en el alivio de síntomas asociados a la depresión, la ansiedad y los trastornos psicóticos [2]. No obstante, su uso prolongado puede generar dependencia tanto física como psicológica, lo que puede dificultar el proceso de recuperación y afectar la calidad de vida de los pacientes. Esta situación plantea un dilema en el ámbito de la salud pública: si bien los fármacos constituyen herramientas terapéuticas valiosas, su prescripción y administración deben ser cuidadosamente reguladas y complementarse con enfoques terapéuticos alternativos.
Palabras clave: fármacos, salud mental, dependencia, tratamientos alternativos.
Abstract
“The pharmaceutical industry has created medications that do not cure, but rather turn patients into lifelong consumers” [1]. This summarizes one of the most common issues in the use of pharmaceuticals for mental health treatments: although their efficacy is reflected in symptom reduction, their consumption without regulated medical prescription can lead to the development of dependency and adverse effects. Currently, mental health is a fundamental aspect of individual well-being, as it radically influences quality of life, interpersonal relationships, and daily performance. In clinical practice, mental disorders are typically addressed through various strategies, including the use of psychotropic drugs, which have demonstrated efficacy in relieving symptoms associated with depression, anxiety, and psychotic disorders [2]. However, prolonged use can generate both physical and psychological dependency, which may hinder the recovery process and affect patients’ quality of life. This situation poses a dilemma in the field of public health: while pharmaceuticals constitute valuable therapeutic tools, their prescription and administration must be carefully regulated and complemented with alternative therapeutic approaches.
Keywords: pharmaceuticals, mental health, dependency, alternative treatments.
Edición N°20
Fecha de publicación: 13 marzo del 2026.
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