Developments in antipsychotic drugs – an update

Abstract

Antipsychotic drug research has recently made much progress. Over the past two years several new drugs have been introduced for the treatment of schizophrenia and more compounds are shortly to be released. Pharmacological studies, improved behavioural models and modern imaging techniques have all contributed to a better understanding of the mechanisms of antipsychotic drug action. Some of the developments that have been made over the past year are reviewed here.

• antipsychotic drugs
• atypicality
• neurotransmitter receptors
• schizophrenia