Approaches for finding new types of antipsychotic compounds.
There is strong evidence that pharmacological interaction with central dopamine transmission at several levels may induce antipsychotic effects in psychiatric patients. All the pharmacological principles interacting with other systems have so far not been established with regard to antipsychotic potential. Besides the dopamine system pharmacological manipulation of central serotonergic, gabaergic and noradrenergic mechanisms may also be of therapeutic value in schizophrenia. The interaction of peptidergic mechanisms and central dopaminergic mechanisms is another avenue for further exploration regarding to pathophysiology of psychosis and its treatment. Elucidation of the heterogeneity and molecular structure of central dopamine receptors seems the most rational approach for creating new dimensions for further development of drug design for pharmacotherapy of psychosis. The detailed mapping of afferent and efferent systems coupled to central dopamine neurons is also an approach that may give guide-lines for finding new types of antipsychotic drugs.
Sedvall
G
G
Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
D000818:Animals; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D002090:Butyrophenones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000187:drug effects*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D002090:Butyrophenones; D009479:Neuropeptides; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter; C008522:metylperon