The term antipsychotic is applied to a group of drugs used to treat psychosis. Common conditions with which antipsychotics might be used include schizophrenia, mania and delusional disorder, although antipsychotics might be used to counter psychosis associated with a wide range of other diagnoses. Antipsychotics also have some effects as mood stabilizers, leading to their frequent use in treating mood disorder (particularly bipolar disorder) even when no signs of psychosis are present. Some antipsychotics (haloperidol, pimozide) are used to treat Tourette syndrome.
It may be more useful to refer to antipsychotics as reality inducing drugs because the term has more positive connotations. This might make patients more well disposed to them and could also help to reduce to the social stigma attached to such drugs.
Antipsychotics are also referred to as neuroleptic drugs, or simply neuroleptics. The word neuroleptic is derieved from Greek. 'Neuro' refers to the nerves and 'lept' means 'to take hold of'. Thus the word means 'taking hold of one's nerves' which implies their role in mood stabilization.
More on [ Antipsychotic ]
Psychopharmacology
Schizophrenia :: Disorders

About.com: Antipsychotic Medications - Article with general information, how long they should be used, and side effects. Links to forums, other articles, and a newsletter.
Meta Description: [ Antipsychotic medications are the treatment-of-choice for schizophrenia and similar severe mental disorders ]
Atypical Antipsychotics - Doctor Z - A brief discussion by a board-certified psychiatrist.
Atypical Antipsychotics: Their Emerging Role in the Treatment of Early-Onset Bipolar Disorder - From The Bipolar Child; discusses issues in the use of antipsychotic drugs in children and adolescents.
Meta Description: [ The Bipolar Child is a new book on early-onset bipolar disorder in children, written by authors Demitri and Janice Papolos who also wrote Overcoming Depression. ]
Atypical Neuroleptics - Background information on antipsychotic medications, potency comparisons, drug name cross reference, and links to other resources.
Recent Developments in Atypical Antipsychotic Medications - Comparative discussion of different medications used to treat schizophrenia and related conditions.
Meta Description: [ Antipsychotic medications that help relieve the symptoms of Schizophrenia. Comprehensive information here. ]
Recent Developments in Atypical Antipsychotic Medications - An editorial by the National Institute of Mental Health on new drug development for the treatment of schizophrenia in the 1990s.
Should the Use of Neuroleptics Be Severely Limited? - Article by Peter R. Breggin, MD, discusses the adverse effects of antipsychotic drugs.
Meta Description: [ Neuroleptics: brain-damaging effects, side effects, withdrawal, and tardive dyskinesia, by Peter R. Breggin, MD ]
Treatments in Schizophrenia - Features a summary fact sheet about the types, functions, and side effects of antipsychotic medications. Particular emphasis on drugs available in Sweden.
| Alert on Atypical Antipsychotics (June 2005) | |
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