title: Pharmacological approaches to the management of schizophrenia: 10 years on.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the contemporary landscape regarding pharmacological treatments for schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Selective literature review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Newer antipsychotic agents include aripiprazole, asenapine, paliperidone, sertindole and ziprasidone. Each has some particular benefits and some shortcomings. Overall treatment efficacy (for positive symptoms at least) has not advanced substantially but some newer agents might have a better profile than older typical agents for negative and cognitive symptoms. Metabolic side effects and hyperprolactinaemia remain a problem with some of the newer agents and appropriate monitoring is required.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Whilst newer antipsychotics have been welcome additions to our pharmacological armamentarium, mostly in terms of tolerability, we have still not seen a 'quantum leap' agent brought to market. Mechanisms of action apart from post-synaptic dopamine blockade appear worthy of further investigation in this regard.
authors.affiliation: St. Vincent's Hospital and The University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia. david.castle@svhm.org.au
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Castle
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Keks
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.forename: Isaac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schweitzer
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Copolov
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Paoletti
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Burrows
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tiller
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D006966:Hyperprolactinemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents
keywords: atypical antipsychotic; hyperprolactinaemia; metabolic syndrome; schizophrenia; typical antipsychotic