SEROTONERGIC BASIS OF ANTIPSYCHOTIC DRUG EFFECTS IN SCHIZOPHRENIA

Recent attention has been focused on the involvement of serotonin (5-H T) in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and its role in mediating a ntipsychotic drug effects. There are two reasons for the new emphasis: the tremendous success of the so-called ''atypical'' antipsychotic dr ugs (a common feature of which is their high affinity for specific: 5- HT receptor subtypes); and the elucidation of a complex family of 5-HT receptors whose function and pharmacology is only beginning to be und erstood. This paper will review the evidence that pertains to the role of 5-HT in mediating antipsychotic drug effects. The interaction of d opamine and 5-HT systems will be reviewed, and the mechanisms of actio n of atypical antipsychotic drugs will be evaluated in this context. T he impact of serotonin on neurodevelopment, and the involvement of ser otonin in the psychotomimetic and psychotogenic properties of hallucin ogens, will be discussed Together, these facts will be placed into the context of changes in serotonergic function in schizophrenia. (C) 199 8 Society of Biological Psychiatry.