Past and future of neuropsychopharmacology

The advent of what is called the chemotherapy of mental diseases goes back to the early fifties, when a series of clinical observations led medical research to reconsider this field, that at the time was not particularly developed. The use of chlorpromazine and of reserpine in the therapy of some psychotic syndromes dates back to that time. A few years later meprobamate was introduced and proved active against anxiety. The success obtained with these drugs was followed by a flourishing of research carried out in a joint effect by pharmacologists and clinicians. This cooperation gave birth to a new discipline, the neuropsychopharmacology. In the course of time, through a progressive refining of the techniques it has been possible to acquire methods particularly suitable for the identification of the effects of the various drugs acting on the CNS. If the sixties were the decade of the synapse, during the seventies the main interest of research was focused on receptors, and the eighties can be considered the decade of post-receptor intraneuronal mechanisms. As far as the future of research is concerned, priority must be given to scientific approaches that: a) explore in a new and original chemistry; b) use advanced pharmacological techniques; c) start from scientific hypotheses based on recent discoveries and if possible suggested by scientists. Recently, special attention has been devoted to the study of inhibitors of proteolitic enzymes responsible for the degradation of enkephalins which allegedly should reinforce the endogenous mechanisms for the control of pain. Encouraging data are already available but these preliminary results should be confirmed before going into more extended investigations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)