Psychological state

"Psychological state" is a broad term referring to the condition or status of an individual's mind at a given time, encompassing emotions, thoughts, moods, and cognitive processes. It is not a molecule, receptor, enzyme, transporter, or any other discrete biological entity. Instead, psychological states are emergent properties resulting from complex interactions among neural circuits in the brain and influenced by neurochemistry (such as neurotransmitters and hormones), genetics, environment, and life experiences[1][4][7]. While research in fields like biopsychology and psychoneuroendocrinoimmunology has revealed some of the biological pathways linking mental life to physiological processes—including how stress or mood can affect immune function—there is no single molecular target that corresponds to "psychological state"[1][8]. Therefore it cannot be considered a therapeutic target in the conventional sense used for drug discovery. Because "psychological state" does not refer to any specific molecule or receptor but rather describes an overall condition arising from multiple interacting systems within the brain and body[4][7], it should not be treated as a canonical drug target.

Other names

Psychological stateMental stateEmotional stateCognitive state