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Another view of the history of antipsychotic drug discovery and development

Molecular Psychiatry volume 17, pages 1168–1173 (2012)Cite this article

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Abstract

Chlorpromazine initiated effective pharmacotherapy for schizophrenia 60 years ago. This discovery initiated or stimulated key developments in the field of psychiatry. Nonetheless, advances in pharmacotherapy of schizophrenia have been modest. Psychosis remains the primary aspect of psychopathology addressed, and core pathologies such as cognition and negative symptom remain unmet therapeutic challenges. New clinical and basic neuroscience paradigms may guide the near future and provide a more heuristic construct for novel and innovative discovery.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    W T Carpenter Jr

  2. Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Baltimore, MD, USA

    J M Davis

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  1. W T Carpenter Jr
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  2. J M Davis
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Correspondence to W T Carpenter Jr.

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Competing interests

During the past 12 months, Dr Carpenter has attended an advisory board meeting (Shire, 2011; Genentech, 2012) or conference call (Astra Zeneca, 2011) relating to psychopharmacology of schizophrenia. Dr Davis has no conflict of interest to report.

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Carpenter, W., Davis, J. Another view of the history of antipsychotic drug discovery and development. Mol Psychiatry 17, 1168–1173 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/mp.2012.121

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Keywords

  • antipsychotic drugs
  • chlorpromazine
  • history
  • psychopharmacology
  • schizophrenia

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