Jornal de Citologia e Histologia

Clinical Efficacy of Antipsychotic Drugs in the Treatment of Schizophrenia

Abstract

Felix-Martin Werner and Rafael Coveñas

We describe in schizophrenia the alterations of classical neurotransmitters and neuropeptides in the mesolimbic system, the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex. The susceptibility genes, which encode dopamine hyperactivity and glutamate and GABA hyperactivity, are described. Using a neural network in the mesolimbic system, the coherence between the risk genes and the cellular mechanisms is derived. The therapeutic and adverse effects of the commonly prescribed second-generation antipsychotic drugs are pointed out. We suggest examining the risk genes in a large cohort of schizophrenic patients in order to have a tool to choose the appropriate antipsychotic drug. We recommend psychoeducation in the therapy of schizophrenic patients so that they can better deal with the schizophrenic symptoms and the adverse effects.