Which class is primarily used to treat psychosis, especially schizophrenia?

Which class is primarily used to treat psychosis, especially schizophrenia?

• A. Antipsychotics
• B. Antidepressants
• C. Antibiotics
• D. Antihistamines

Answer: (A)

Antipsychotics are the main medicines used to treat psychosis, especially schizophrenia. They work by blocking dopamine D2 receptors in brain circuits linked to perception and thought, particularly the mesolimbic pathway. This dopamine blockade helps reduce the hallmark psychotic symptoms—delusions and hallucinations—that define schizophrenia. There are older (typical) and newer (atypical) antipsychotics; both aim to control symptoms, though atypicals often have different side-effect profiles and can help with a broader range of symptoms. Antidepressants treat mood disorders, antibiotics treat infections, and antihistamines treat allergy symptoms, so they aren’t used primarily to treat psychosis.

Antipsychotics are the main medicines used to treat psychosis, especially schizophrenia. They work by blocking dopamine D2 receptors in brain circuits linked to perception and thought, particularly the mesolimbic pathway. This dopamine blockade helps reduce the hallmark psychotic symptoms—delusions and hallucinations—that define schizophrenia. There are older (typical) and newer (atypical) antipsychotics; both aim to control symptoms, though atypicals often have different side-effect profiles and can help with a broader range of symptoms. Antidepressants treat mood disorders, antibiotics treat infections, and antihistamines treat allergy symptoms, so they aren’t used primarily to treat psychosis.