PARENTHETICAL DEFINITION:
Neuroleptics (antipsychotic drugs) are classified as either conventional or atypical antipsychotic drugs.
SENTENCE DEFINITION:
Neuroleptics, also known as antipsychotics, are drugs used to treat patients who have been diagnosed with psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, and patients who display psychotic symptoms (e.g. mania and paranoia) in other disorders.
EXPANDED DEFINITION:
NEUROLEPTICS
What are Neuroleptics?
Neuroleptics, also known as antipsychotics, are drugs used to treat patients who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Neuroleptics work by blocking the dopamine receptors in the brain, which thus mitigates the stimulating effects of dopamine on patients who suffer from psychotic disorders (see Figure 1.1). A particularly noticeable response from this is the diminished severity of hallucinations and delusions commonly experienced by patients.
Figure 1.1: Neuroleptic drugs act on the brain by blocking postsynaptic receptors and thus preventing the uptake of dopamine into postsynaptic neurons. From “First-Generation and Second-Generation Antipsychotics”, by LOTUS_EAT3R, 2014. Retreived from http://lotuseat3r.blogspot.com/2014/04/first-generation-and-second-generation.html.
How are they classified?
Neuroleptics can simply be classified in two groups: conventional and atypical. Atypical neuroleptics are first-generation antipsychotics that prominently help to alleviate the positive symptoms of schizophrenia such as agitations, delusions and hallucinations in patients. Conventional neuroleptics, or second-generation antipsychotics, are the more recently developed class of antipsychotic drugs and can be distinguished from earlier neuroleptics by the fact that these have fewer extrapyramidal side effects such as tardive dyskinesia, which is marked by involuntary facial movements. While neuroleptics from both generations are generally effective in treating psychotic symptoms, medical practitioners of today mainly prescribe conventional neuroleptics to their patients.
How are Neuroleptics used?
Neuroleptics are usually administered orally or through injections. While many patients are able to take an oral medication daily, some prefer taking depot neuroleptics (injected neuroleptics) every few weeks. Depot neuroleptics are effective for a longer period of time and can last up to four weeks. This type of administration is ideal for those who may be resistant to a schedule that requires taking neuroleptic drugs on a daily basis.
References
Butcher, J. N., Hooley, J. M., & Mineka, S. (2014a). Pharmacological approaches. In Mitchell, E. (Ed.), Abnormal psychology (16th ed., pp. 476-477). New Jersey: Pearson.
Butcher, J. N., Hooley, J. M., & Mineka, S. (2014b). Antipsychotic drugs. In Mitchell, E. (Ed.), Abnormal psychology (16th ed., pp. 569-570). New Jersey: Pearson.
LOTUS_EAT3R (2014, April 9). First-generation and second-generation antipsychotics [Web log post]. All behaviour is meaning “full”. Retreived from http://lotuseat3r.blogspot.com/2014/04/first-generation-and-second-generation.html.
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