The new antipsychotics--some pharmacological aspects of their problems and potential

The drug treatment of schizophrenia still offers many challenges, despite the efficacy of the classical antipsychotics. Although the more recently introduced drugs demonstrate a diminished incidence of certain side effects, notably extrapyramidal motor symptoms, it is clear that they do not adequately address all symptoms of the disease. In addition, weight gain remains a major problem following treatment with many older and newer antipsychotic drugs. Nevertheless, some progress has been made towards ameliorating negative, depressive and cognitive features of schizophrenia. The newer antipsychotics show differential effects against these and other symptoms and thus their pharmacological profiles provide us with clues as to the receptor mechanisms underlying their therapeutic and side effects.