Antipsychotics: Core Concepts

Antipsychotic medications, also known as neuroleptics, are primarily used for the management of psychosis, including hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thought that are typically associated with conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. However, they are sometimes prescribed as adjunct therapies for other conditions, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, or anxiety when first-line therapies do not suffice alone.

These medications have a considerable presence in the driving population due to the broad spectrum of psychiatric conditions for which they can be applied and may be of elevated concern because they are almost always paired with other psychoactive medications.

While antipsychotics are commonly referred to as CNS depressants in context of forensic investigations, a firm grasp of their pharmacology and toxicology is necessary to understand their unique properties, symptomatology, and potential role in multi-substance cases.

This final course in our Core Concepts series will explore antipsychotic medications from the perspective of three scientific disciplines: pharmacology, forensic toxicology, and clinical toxicology. These insights will provide the foundations necessary to understand the potential role of antipsychotics in impairment cases and corresponding litigation.