Zyprexa (olanzapine) became rapidly popular after its introduction in the United States in 1996. Its structural similarity to Clozaril (clozapine) led to hopes that it would be as effective for treatment-resistant cases as Clozaril but without the risk of agranulocytosis.

Abilify (aripiprazole) is out! But you probably already know this, if your mailbox and fax machine have become as saturated with BMS-funded missives from CME, Inc. as mine have been. The hired guns are out in force once again, and so we front-line clinicians are faced with the task of separating the authentic wheat from the hyped-up chaff.

In the beginning of modern psychiatry, there was only one medication— Thorazine (Chlorpromazine). Thorazine was originally classified as an antihistamine, and was used to treat everything thrown in the path of psychiatrists: psychosis, mania, depression, and anxiety.

Dr. Jibson, how do you go about deciding which atypical antipsychotic to prescribe for a particular patient?

J.C. Michael Shea is Supervising Psychiatrist at Health and Education Services in Haverhill Massachusetts, and has treated many thousands of schizophrenic patients over a 30 year career. He has definitely hopped onto the Abilify bandwagon, and his perspective is an interesting one.

Topics: Antipsychotics

The first antipsychotic medication was discovered by a French naval surgeon named Henri Laborit. Dr. Laborit had little interest in psychiatry, but was avidly seeking a way to better treat wounded soldiers who were in shock.