Perspectives on the role of serotonergic mechanisms in the pharmacology of schizophrenia.

J Psychopharmacol

Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, DeCrespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London, UK.

Published: June 1997

AI Article Synopsis

  • Recent studies indicate that serotonin (5-HT) may play a significant role in the treatment of schizophrenia, particularly through atypical antipsychotics that block 5-HT receptors.
  • These atypical antipsychotics are shown to be as effective as traditional ones, with fewer side effects related to movement disorders.
  • The article explores how variations in 5-HT receptor genes might influence the risk of developing schizophrenia and how patients respond to treatment, suggesting that understanding these receptors could enhance treatment strategies.

Article Abstract

In recent years, a number of research findings has renewed interest in the possible role of serotonin (5-HT) in the pharmacology of schizophrenia. Atypical antipsychotics that potently block 5-HT receptors have been shown to be at least as effective as classical antipsychotics as well as producing fewer extrapyramidal side-effects. In addition, molecular biological studies have suggested that allelic variations of 5-HT receptor genes may affect both susceptibility to schizophrenia and clinical response to atypical antipsychotics. Building on these findings, this article proposes that 5-HT receptors are critical sites of antipsychotic action, and examines the implications of this to the treatment and pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Possible pharmacological mechanisms underlying the clinical efficacy of 5-HT blocking antipsychotics are discussed, and the potential of functional neuroimaging techniques to further elucidate these mechanisms is emphasized.

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/026988119701100102DOI Listing

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