Timeline of the Development of Antipsychotic Drugs

As people enter early adulthood, some unexpectedly experience episodes of psychosis, which can involve persistent hallucinations, delusions, and unusual thoughts or behaviors. When these episodes persist or recur, they can lead to diagnoses such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. In the past, we had little understanding of these conditions or how to manage them. But our ability to treat and understand these conditions has grown through trial and error, scientific research, and regulation.

In a new article, Saloni Dattani traces the history of medications for psychosis, explaining how and why we can now treat these conditions more effectively and safely, while also looking ahead at the progress still to be made.