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Atypical Psychotropic Agents

Trazodone and Buspirone

  • Chapter
Drug Discovery and Development

Abstract

The discovery and development of truly atypical psychotropic agents are by far more challenging endeavors than synthesizing an additional member of a prototypical class of compounds and demonstrating that it retains a desired pharmacological profile. The identification of novel molecules with potential for clinical application is often hampered by the preconceived notions of structure-activity requirements, desired neurochemical effects, and empirically validated behavioral predictors of clinical success that comfort those seeking to develop second generations of an existing class of drug. Despite dramatic progress in the neurosciences, we still do not understand the biological bases of psychopathology enough to design drugs that will selectively reverse those aberrant states of neural activity that are associated with many disorders. Rather, in order to rationally conceptualize future avenues of pharmacotherapy, we must rely upon imperfect, evolving knowledge about disease states and inferences we may make based upon a similarly incomplete appreciation of the mechanism of action of drugs known to be effective against clinical targets.

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Authors
  1. Michael S. Eison
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  2. Duncan P. Taylor
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  3. Leslie A. Riblet
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Drug Discovery Administration, Pharmaceuticals Division, Ciba-Geigy Corporation, Summit, New Jersey, USA

    Michael Williams

  2. Biomedical Research Department, Stuart Pharmaceuticals, ICI Americas Inc., Wilmington, Delaware, USA

    Jeffrey B. Malick

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Eison, M.S., Taylor, D.P., Riblet, L.A. (1987). Atypical Psychotropic Agents. In: Williams, M., Malick, J.B. (eds) Drug Discovery and Development. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4828-6_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4828-6_14

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