Promising Evidence of Antipsychotic Efficacy without Dopamine D2-Receptor Binding

A French surgeon, Henri Laborit, discovered the first antipsychotic drug, chlorpromazine (Thorazine), in 1952 while experimenting with compounds to enhance anesthesia. Since then, antipsychotic drugs have helped transform the lives of people with schizophrenia, allowing most to live in the community and many to function independently. Although these drugs are effective in controlling or ameliorating the delusions and hallucinations of psychosis, they do not reduce the cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia and only minimally alleviate the negative symptoms such as apathy and reduced emotional expression. In addition, dopamine D2-receptor blockade, which is the primary mechanism of action common to antipsychotics, . . .