"
The original antipsychotic drugs were happened upon largely by chance
and then tested for their effectiveness. The first, chlorpromazine, was
developed as a surgical anesthetic. It was first used on psychiatric
patients because of its powerful calming effect; at the time it was
regarded as a "chemical lobotomy". Lobotomy at the time was used to
treat many behavioral disorders, including psychosis, although its
effect was to markedly reduce behavior and mental functioning of all
types. However, chlorpromazine proved to reduce the effects of psychosis
in a more effective and specific manner than the extreme lobotomy-like
sedation it was known for. The underlying neurochemistry involved has
since been studied in detail, and subsequent antipsychotic drugs have
been discovered by an approach that incorporates this sort of information.
"
Did they ever treat any brain illness is schizophrenia and bipolar? Or
is the colloquialism "chemical cosh" making sense?
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