Dopamine Modulation by Antipsychotic in Schizophrenia

Verma Muskan

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijmri.20250101.16

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Dopamine Modulation by Antipsychotic in Schizophrenia

Verma Muskan^*

Published in International Journal of Medical Research and Innovation (Volume 1, Issue 1)

Received: 24 April 2025 Accepted: 2 July 2025 Published: 17 December 2025

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Abstract

Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder characterized by positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms. The dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia posits that hyperactivity of dopamine pathways, particularly in the mesolimbic pathway, contributes to the positive symptoms of the illness. Antipsychotic medications, the primary pharmacological treatment for schizophrenia, exert their therapeutic effects largely through modulation of dopamine neurotransmission. This document explores the mechanisms by which antipsychotic drugs affect dopamine pathways. Both first-generation antipsychotics (FGAs) and second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) primarily act as dopamine receptor antagonists, blocking dopamine receptors, particularly the D2 receptor subtype. However, SGAs exhibit a more complex pharmacological profile, often including serotonin receptor antagonism (e.g., 5-HT2A) in addition to dopamine receptor blockade. This serotonin antagonism is thought to contribute to the improved side effect profile and efficacy against negative symptoms observed with some SGAs. The document further examines the regional specificity of antipsychotic effects on dopamine release and metabolism, considering the mesolimbic, mesocortical, nigrostriatal, and tuberoinfundibular pathways. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for optimizing antipsychotic treatment strategies, minimizing adverse effects such as extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) and hyperprolactinemia, and developing novel therapeutic interventions targeting dopamine and other neurotransmitter systems in schizophrenia.

Published in	International Journal of Medical Research and Innovation (Volume 1, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijmri.20250101.16
Page(s)	47-52
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Antipsychotic, Schizophrenia, Dopamine, First Generation Antipsychotic Drugs, Second Generation Antipsychotic Drugs

References

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APA Style

Muskan, V. (2025). Dopamine Modulation by Antipsychotic in Schizophrenia. International Journal of Medical Research and Innovation, 1(1), 47-52. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmri.20250101.16

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Muskan, V. Dopamine Modulation by Antipsychotic in Schizophrenia. Int. J. Med. Res. Innovation 2025, 1(1), 47-52. doi: 10.11648/j.ijmri.20250101.16

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AMA Style

Muskan V. Dopamine Modulation by Antipsychotic in Schizophrenia. Int J Med Res Innovation. 2025;1(1):47-52. doi: 10.11648/j.ijmri.20250101.16

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@article{10.11648/j.ijmri.20250101.16,
  author = {Verma Muskan},
  title = {Dopamine Modulation by Antipsychotic in Schizophrenia},
  journal = {International Journal of Medical Research and Innovation},
  volume = {1},
  number = {1},
  pages = {47-52},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijmri.20250101.16},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmri.20250101.16},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijmri.20250101.16},
  abstract = {Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder characterized by positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms. The dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia posits that hyperactivity of dopamine pathways, particularly in the mesolimbic pathway, contributes to the positive symptoms of the illness. Antipsychotic medications, the primary pharmacological treatment for schizophrenia, exert their therapeutic effects largely through modulation of dopamine neurotransmission. This document explores the mechanisms by which antipsychotic drugs affect dopamine pathways. Both first-generation antipsychotics (FGAs) and second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) primarily act as dopamine receptor antagonists, blocking dopamine receptors, particularly the D2 receptor subtype. However, SGAs exhibit a more complex pharmacological profile, often including serotonin receptor antagonism (e.g., 5-HT2A) in addition to dopamine receptor blockade. This serotonin antagonism is thought to contribute to the improved side effect profile and efficacy against negative symptoms observed with some SGAs. The document further examines the regional specificity of antipsychotic effects on dopamine release and metabolism, considering the mesolimbic, mesocortical, nigrostriatal, and tuberoinfundibular pathways. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for optimizing antipsychotic treatment strategies, minimizing adverse effects such as extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) and hyperprolactinemia, and developing novel therapeutic interventions targeting dopamine and other neurotransmitter systems in schizophrenia.},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Dopamine Modulation by Antipsychotic in Schizophrenia
AU  - Verma Muskan
Y1  - 2025/12/17
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmri.20250101.16
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijmri.20250101.16
T2  - International Journal of Medical Research and Innovation
JF  - International Journal of Medical Research and Innovation
JO  - International Journal of Medical Research and Innovation
SP  - 47
EP  - 52
PB  - Science Publishing Group
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmri.20250101.16
AB  - Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder characterized by positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms. The dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia posits that hyperactivity of dopamine pathways, particularly in the mesolimbic pathway, contributes to the positive symptoms of the illness. Antipsychotic medications, the primary pharmacological treatment for schizophrenia, exert their therapeutic effects largely through modulation of dopamine neurotransmission. This document explores the mechanisms by which antipsychotic drugs affect dopamine pathways. Both first-generation antipsychotics (FGAs) and second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) primarily act as dopamine receptor antagonists, blocking dopamine receptors, particularly the D2 receptor subtype. However, SGAs exhibit a more complex pharmacological profile, often including serotonin receptor antagonism (e.g., 5-HT2A) in addition to dopamine receptor blockade. This serotonin antagonism is thought to contribute to the improved side effect profile and efficacy against negative symptoms observed with some SGAs. The document further examines the regional specificity of antipsychotic effects on dopamine release and metabolism, considering the mesolimbic, mesocortical, nigrostriatal, and tuberoinfundibular pathways. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for optimizing antipsychotic treatment strategies, minimizing adverse effects such as extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) and hyperprolactinemia, and developing novel therapeutic interventions targeting dopamine and other neurotransmitter systems in schizophrenia.
VL  - 1
IS  - 1
ER  -

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Verma Muskan

Saraswati Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Gandhinagar, India

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http://orcid.org/0009-0006-5958-8242

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APA Style

Muskan, V. (2025). Dopamine Modulation by Antipsychotic in Schizophrenia. International Journal of Medical Research and Innovation, 1(1), 47-52. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmri.20250101.16

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Muskan, V. Dopamine Modulation by Antipsychotic in Schizophrenia. Int. J. Med. Res. Innovation 2025, 1(1), 47-52. doi: 10.11648/j.ijmri.20250101.16

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AMA Style

Muskan V. Dopamine Modulation by Antipsychotic in Schizophrenia. Int J Med Res Innovation. 2025;1(1):47-52. doi: 10.11648/j.ijmri.20250101.16

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@article{10.11648/j.ijmri.20250101.16,
  author = {Verma Muskan},
  title = {Dopamine Modulation by Antipsychotic in Schizophrenia},
  journal = {International Journal of Medical Research and Innovation},
  volume = {1},
  number = {1},
  pages = {47-52},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijmri.20250101.16},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmri.20250101.16},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijmri.20250101.16},
  abstract = {Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder characterized by positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms. The dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia posits that hyperactivity of dopamine pathways, particularly in the mesolimbic pathway, contributes to the positive symptoms of the illness. Antipsychotic medications, the primary pharmacological treatment for schizophrenia, exert their therapeutic effects largely through modulation of dopamine neurotransmission. This document explores the mechanisms by which antipsychotic drugs affect dopamine pathways. Both first-generation antipsychotics (FGAs) and second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) primarily act as dopamine receptor antagonists, blocking dopamine receptors, particularly the D2 receptor subtype. However, SGAs exhibit a more complex pharmacological profile, often including serotonin receptor antagonism (e.g., 5-HT2A) in addition to dopamine receptor blockade. This serotonin antagonism is thought to contribute to the improved side effect profile and efficacy against negative symptoms observed with some SGAs. The document further examines the regional specificity of antipsychotic effects on dopamine release and metabolism, considering the mesolimbic, mesocortical, nigrostriatal, and tuberoinfundibular pathways. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for optimizing antipsychotic treatment strategies, minimizing adverse effects such as extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) and hyperprolactinemia, and developing novel therapeutic interventions targeting dopamine and other neurotransmitter systems in schizophrenia.},
 year = {2025}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Dopamine Modulation by Antipsychotic in Schizophrenia
AU  - Verma Muskan
Y1  - 2025/12/17
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmri.20250101.16
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijmri.20250101.16
T2  - International Journal of Medical Research and Innovation
JF  - International Journal of Medical Research and Innovation
JO  - International Journal of Medical Research and Innovation
SP  - 47
EP  - 52
PB  - Science Publishing Group
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmri.20250101.16
AB  - Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder characterized by positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms. The dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia posits that hyperactivity of dopamine pathways, particularly in the mesolimbic pathway, contributes to the positive symptoms of the illness. Antipsychotic medications, the primary pharmacological treatment for schizophrenia, exert their therapeutic effects largely through modulation of dopamine neurotransmission. This document explores the mechanisms by which antipsychotic drugs affect dopamine pathways. Both first-generation antipsychotics (FGAs) and second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) primarily act as dopamine receptor antagonists, blocking dopamine receptors, particularly the D2 receptor subtype. However, SGAs exhibit a more complex pharmacological profile, often including serotonin receptor antagonism (e.g., 5-HT2A) in addition to dopamine receptor blockade. This serotonin antagonism is thought to contribute to the improved side effect profile and efficacy against negative symptoms observed with some SGAs. The document further examines the regional specificity of antipsychotic effects on dopamine release and metabolism, considering the mesolimbic, mesocortical, nigrostriatal, and tuberoinfundibular pathways. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for optimizing antipsychotic treatment strategies, minimizing adverse effects such as extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) and hyperprolactinemia, and developing novel therapeutic interventions targeting dopamine and other neurotransmitter systems in schizophrenia.
VL  - 1
IS  - 1
ER  -

Copy | Download