Receptor mechanisms in antipsychotic drug action: focus on sigma receptors (original) (raw)

Publication: The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences

Abstract

The principal antischizophrenic neuroleptic drugs in current clinical use act by blocking dopamine receptors, which mediate extrapyramidal side effects and tardive dyskinesia. As an alternative strategy, researchers have sought agents that do not influence dopamine receptors but whose behavioral effects in animals resemble those of neuroleptics. Some promising "new generation" candidate drugs have shown beneficial effects in schizophrenic patients in early clinical trials. These new agents share a selective, high affinity for sigma receptors, sites where psychotomimetic opiates act. A systematic screen for drugs that block sigma receptors may provide a valuable strategy in identifying novel antischizophrenic agents and in clarifying the pathophysiology of psychosis.

Get full access to this content

View all available purchase options and get full access to this content.

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences

The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences

History

Published in print: February 1989

Published online: 1 April 2006

Authors

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

Citations

Export Citations

If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.

For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu.

View Options

Not a subscriber?

Subscribe Now / Learn More

PsychiatryOnline subscription options offer access to the DSM-5-TRĀ® library, books, journals, CME, and patient resources. This all-in-one virtual library provides psychiatrists and mental health professionals with key resources for diagnosis, treatment, research, and professional development.

Need more help? PsychiatryOnline Customer Service may be reached by emailing [email protected] or by calling 800-368-5777 (in the U.S.) or 703-907-7322 (outside the U.S.).

View options

PDF/EPUB

View PDF/EPUB

Figures

Tables

Media

Open in viewer

Go to

Go to

Show all references

Request permissionsExpand All

Collapse

Expand Table

Authors Info & Affiliations