Pathology and drug action in schizophrenia: insights from molecular biology.

Schizophrenia is a severe disorder of personality which has a genetic basis. Schizophrenia arises from a change in brain development. There is no strong evidence that disturbances in neurotransmitter systems are a primary cause. Anti-psychotic drugs act primarily through D2 and D3 dopamine receptors. The atypical drug clozapine may act through a number of different receptors, including D2, D3 and D4 dopamine receptors. Anti-psychotic drugs are inverse agonists at D2 dopamine receptors.