title: Emerging drugs for schizophrenia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since the development of clozapine, scores of antipsychotics have been introduced. These are, with one exception (aripiprazole), based on the pharmacological principle of 5-HT(2)/dopamine antagonism. Research on other treatment targets, which, in part, influence dopaminergic pathways directly or indirectly, is mounting. Managing psychotic symptoms is only one facet of successful treatment of schizophrenia. Effective remedies against negative symptoms and cognitive deficits are still an unmet clinical need.
  
  
  METHODS
  With the focus on the topics mentioned above, the authors briefly review the latest clinical research organized on the basis of receptor systems and other drug targets, which are discussed to be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, although clinicians will have to have considerable patience before truly novel anti-schizophrenia treatments become obtainable, a number of interesting leads with considerable theoretical potential are being explored. As yet, it is difficult to predict which of these mechanisms will effectively augment the currently available treatments.
authors.affiliation: Medical University Innsbruck, Department for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Clinic for Biological Psychiatry, Anichstrasse 35, A-6020 Innsbruck Austria. falko.biedermann@uki.at
authors.forename: Falko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Biedermann
authors.forename: W Wolfgang
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Fleischhacker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003024:Clozapine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003024:Clozapine