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High-throughput Identification of Synergistic Drug Combinations by the Overlap2 Method
Published on: May 21, 2018
Serendipity and psychopharmacology
1University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. HowlandRH@upmc.edu
Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services
|September 30, 2010
Summary
Serendipitous discoveries have led to significant psychiatric medications and devices. Nurses play a key role in observing and reporting unexpected patient responses to treatments.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
- Medical History
Background:
- Many psychiatric treatments originate from unexpected findings during unrelated research.
- Serendipity has historically played a crucial role in psychopharmacology.
- Understanding these origins can inform future drug discovery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight instances where serendipitous observations led to psychiatric drug and device development.
- To emphasize the importance of recognizing and reporting unexpected clinical effects.
- To underscore the role of healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, in this process.
Main Methods:
- Review of historical cases of psychiatric drug and device discovery.
- Analysis of initial indications versus eventual psychiatric applications.
- Case examples including chlorpromazine, iproniazid, meprobamate, lamotrigine, and vagus nerve stimulation.
Main Results:
- Chlorpromazine's psychotropic effects were noted during anesthesia research.
- Iproniazid, an anti-tuberculosis drug, became an antidepressant.
- Meprobamate evolved from research on penicillin.
- Lamotrigine and vagus nerve stimulation showed mood benefits in epilepsy patients.
Conclusions:
- Serendipity is a significant driver in psychiatric innovation.
- Nurses are uniquely positioned to identify and report novel clinical observations.
- Vigilance for unexpected effects can lead to new therapeutic avenues in psychiatry.
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