What are Antipsychotics?
Antipsychotics are prescription medications used to treat psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or psychotic depression. While some feel that the term “antipsychotics” may be a little insensitive, it is a medical term that has been used for a long time and is unlikely to be changed.
Antipsychotics are prescription drugs which are used to treat psychoses, a family of psychiatric conditions associated with a loss of connection with reality. In addition to being used for psychosis, antipsychotics are also used off-label to treat some other conditions, such as Asperger’s Syndrome. Off-label use is controversial in some cases, reflecting the fact that antipsychotics have not been tested for such uses. Because antipsychotics interfere with brain chemistry, these drugs may also have long-term effects which have not been fully explored, an issue which is of special concern when antipsychotics are used on children. Psychosis can take a number of forms. Mania, delusional disorders, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia are all forms of psychosis, for example. As a general rule, psychotics are profoundly disconnected from reality, and they may experience hallucinations, disorganized thinking, changes in personality, and violent episodes. Antipsychotics are designed to help nor
