title: Investigational drugs for schizophrenia targeting the dopamine receptor: phase II trials.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  For over half a century now, the dopamine hypothesis has provided the most widely accepted heuristic model linking pathophysiology and treatment in schizophrenia. Despite dopaminergic drugs being available for six decades, this system continues to represent a key target in schizophrenia drug discovery. The present article reviews the scientific rationale for dopaminergic medications historically and the shift in our thinking since, which is clearly reflected in the investigational drugs detailed.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched for investigational drugs using the key words 'dopamine,' 'schizophrenia,' and 'Phase II' in American and European clinical trial registers (clinicaltrials.gov; clinicaltrialsregister.eu), published articles using National Library of Medicine's PubMed database, and supplemented results with a manual search of cross-references and conference abstracts. We provide a brief description of drugs targeting dopamine synthesis, release or metabolism, and receptors (agonists/partial agonists/antagonists).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are prominent shifts in how we presently conceptualize schizophrenia and its treatment. Current efforts are not as much focused on developing better antipsychotics but, instead, on treatments that can improve other symptom domains, in particular cognitive and negative. This new era in the pharmacotherapy of schizophrenia moves us away from the older 'magic bullet' approach toward a strategy fostering polypharmacy and a more individualized approach shaped by the individual's specific symptom profile.
authors: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) , 250 College Street, Toronto, M5T 1R8, Canada.
authors: Naren P
authors: NP
authors: Rao
authors: Gary
authors: G
authors: Remington
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D003072:Cognition Disorders; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055808:Drug Discovery; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D015259:Dopamine Agents; D015507:Drugs, Investigational; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine