Friedhoff A J
Schizophr Bull. 1983;9(4):555-62. doi: 10.1093/schbul/9.4.555.
Antipsychotic drugs currently in use have been developed as antidopaminergic agents; that is, normalization of psychotic symptoms occurs through a reduction in dopaminergic activity, usually by blockade of postsynaptic dopamine receptors. Based on this current understanding of the mechanism of action of antipsychotic drugs, it is suggested that one physiological role of the dopaminergic system is to down-regulate in the face of biological or psychological insult, as a means of maintaining mental stability. An attempt to develop new drugs to improve the efficiency of this down-regulative system as an alternative to conventional drugs that block dopamine receptors is proposed.
目前使用的抗精神病药物是作为抗多巴胺能药物开发的；也就是说，通过降低多巴胺能活性（通常是通过阻断突触后多巴胺受体）来实现精神病症状的正常化。基于目前对抗精神病药物作用机制的这种理解，有人提出多巴胺能系统的一个生理作用是在面对生物或心理损伤时进行下调，以此作为维持精神稳定的一种手段。有人提议尝试开发新药来提高这种下调系统的效率，以替代阻断多巴胺受体的传统药物。
