Die nächste Generation „atypischer” Antipsychotika: Der Beitrag der Positronenemissionstomographie

Almost fifteen years of research with Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) have led to a profound understanding of the relationships between antipsychotic doses and plasma levels on the one hand and occupancy of (striatal) D 2 -like dopamine receptors on the other hand as well as with the associated clinical effects and side effects. Furthermore, with the development of clinically atypical" antipsychotics PET studies helped to generate hypotheses regarding the essential pharmacological properties of this heterogeneous class of drugs. Possible mechanisms of action include combined D 2 -/5-HT 2 antagonism, preferential mesolimbic binding, a…