Glenn has been taking a classical antipsychotic for schizophrenia. Because he wants to understand what effects the drug is having on him, he reads about how it is working in his brain. He finds that the antipsychotic medications are doing which of the following in his brain?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Classical antipsychotic medications work by blocking dopamine receptors in the brain, thus decreasing dopamine neurotransmission. This is believed to help reduce the symptoms of schizophrenia, which are thought to be related to overactivity of dopamine in certain parts of the brain. Option A is incorrect as this describes the effect of stimulant drugs, not antipsychotics. Option B is not accurate as antipsychotics do not kill dopamine receptors, but rather block them. Option D is also incorrect as it describes the effect of drugs that prolong the action of dopamine, such as certain antidepressants, but not antipsychotics.

Glenn Has Been Taking a Classical Antipsychotic for Schizophrenia