Atypical Antipsychotic Drugs (AAD, Also Known As Second Generation Antipsychotics)

Atypical antipsychotic drugs (AAD, also known as second generation antipsychotics) are a class of medications used to treat psychotic behaviors (irrational or violent behavior that is usually based on hallucinations,delusions,extreme fear, or paranoia. Developed in the 1970s, AAD were developed to have fewer side effects (like involuntary body movements) and treat more symptoms in patients than the typical antipsychotic drugs that were developed in the 1950s. AADs affect dopamine and serotonin neurotransmitters in the brain and are used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and autism spectrum disorder.