Briefly describe the use of Drug Therapy in the treatment of Schizophrenia.

The most common treatment for schizophrenia involves the use of antipsychotic drugs. There are two types of antipsychotic: typical and atypical Antipsychotics. Typical antipsychotics are an older class of drugs that work as dopamine agnostics: these work by blocking dopamine receptors in the synapses of the brain, reducing the action of the neurotransmitter dopamine. These reduce positive symptoms of schizophrenia. Atypical Antipsychotics are a newer class that act on the dopamine receptors in the same way as typical antipsychotics, but also effects the serotonin and glutamine receptors. It is believed that this helps improve mood and reduce depression and anxiety in patients and may improve cognitive functioning, as it reduces both positive and negative symptoms in schizophrenic patients.