psychochemical

[ sahy-koh-kem-i-kuhl ]

adjective

1. pertaining to chemicals or drugs that affect the mind or behavior.

noun

1. any such substance, especially when used as a chemical warfare agent.

psychochemical

/ ˌsaɪkəʊˈkɛmɪkəl /

noun

1. any of various chemical compounds whose primary effect is the alteration of the normal state of consciousness

adjective

1. of or relating to such chemical compounds

Word History and Origins

Origin of psychochemical¹

First recorded in 1955–60; psycho- + chemical

Example Sentences

For the most part, Dr. Ketchum was a fierce defender of the Edgewood studies and of “psychochemical warfare” more broadly — as when, in 2002, Russian authorities pumped a gas into a Moscow theater where Chechen militants had seized more than 700 hostages.

From Washington Post

Based on Lawrence's description of the idea, it sounds like she's talking about "Operation Delirium," a lengthy 2012 piece in The New Yorker about a psychochemical experimentation program that took place in Maryland during the Cold War.

From The Verge

He remained, in certain ways, an unreconstructed 1960s person to the end of his life, fascinated with esoteric philosophies, paranormal phenomena, alchemy and psychochemical exploration.

From New York Times

Thereafter, a species-wide psychochemical reaction began – yet to be blamed on the contraceptive pill being in the water, but give it time – that has caused a wholesale degeneration of humankind.

From The Guardian

And who shall deny it all in the psychochemical laboratories?

From Project Gutenberg