Drug treatment of schizophrenia: Myths and realities

The most notable research in drug treatment of schizophrenia this decade has been concerned with the identification of different receptor subtypes in the brain and the attempts to relate antipsychotic effects of novel antipsychotics to the blockade of subgroups and combinations of these receptors. At the same time, more pragmatic clinical research approaches have tried to improve our abilities to use available antipsychotics (by means of different dose strategies, plasma drug monitoring etc.), and to evaluate the therapeutic effect, not only in positive and negative symptoms, but also in cognitive function, subjective feelings and quality of life. In this research area, some myths and other critical aspects have evolved to powerfully influence the field.