Neurochemical alterations in schizophrenia affecting the putative receptor targets of atypical antipsychotics
Harrison PJ.
What mechanisms make an antipsychotic atypical? A common view is that the different therapeutic and side-effect profile of atypical compared to typical antipsychotics is due to their high affinity for specific dopamine and/or 5-HT (serotonin) receptors. Dopamine D4and 5-HT2areceptors are particularly implicated, though many others have been proposed as well, including dopamine D1and D3, 5-HT1a, 5-HT2c, 5-HT6, 5-HT7and α2adrenergic receptors (for review, see Deutchet al,1991; Ashby & Wang, 1996; Kinon & Lieberman, 1996).