Atypical antipsychotic medications: Pharmacological profiles and psychological implications

Advances in psychopharmacology and the development of new antipsychotic med ications may represent increased opportunities for psychologists to provide expanded psychosocial services to patients with schizophrenia The new agen ts, referred to as the atypical antipsychotics, are as efficacious as the o lder conventional antipsychotics but demonstrate a mole favorable side effe ct profile. Preliminary data suggest improvements in cognitive deficits and negative symptoms typically associated with schizophrenia, which may enhan ce long-term outcome. Psychologists may be increasingly called on to provid e psychosocial services to this population, thereby requiring that they hav e a sound working knowledge of the pharmacological and psychological proper ties of these agents.