SERTINDOLE, A NEW ATYPICAL ANTIPSYCHOTIC FOR THE TREATMENT OF SCHIZOPHRENIA

The introduction of antipsychotics for the management of schizophrenia greatly improved the quality of life of many patients suffering from this debilitating disease. Although typical antipsychotic drugs repres ent a significant advancement in psychopharmacology, they carry a heav y side effect burden, have little efficacy in the management of negati ve symptoms, and are ineffective in about one-third of patients with s chizophrenia. Atypical antipsychotic agents characterized the next maj or advancement in pharmacotherapy. They differ from typical antipsycho tics in their mechanism of action, side effect profiles, and clinical efficacy. Sertindole is a new atypical antipsychotic.