Medical Pharmacology: Antipsychotic Drugs

**Learning Objectives**
Upon completing this module, the learner will be able to: 1. Explain the pharmacological mechanisms that distinguish second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) from first-generation agents, including the 5-HT_2A/D₂ ratio hypothesis, the fast-off theory, and partial agonism. 2. Identify the clinical indications, pharmacological profiles, and key distinguishing features of major SGA agents, including clozapine, risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, ziprasidone, and aripiprazole. 3. Summarize evidence from landmark clinical trials, including CATIE, CUtLASS, and major network meta-analyses, regarding the comparative efficacy and tolerability of SGAs. 4. Describe the metabolic risks associated with SGA therapy and apply consensus monitoring recommendations to clinical scenarios. 5. Discuss the role of long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics, including their comparative efficacy versus oral formulations for relapse prevention. 6. Apply evidence-based guideline recommendations to individualized antipsychotic selection, with particular attention to clozapine use in treatment-resistant schizophrenia.

References
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