Antipsychotic Disorders: Aripiprazole

Aripiprazole is an atypical antipsychotic drug approved by the FDA as an adjunct in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). This essay will cover important themes relevant to aripiprazole’s unique dopamine pharmacology. The persistent need for new alternative classes of antidepressant will be highlighted in light of the growing evidence of dopamine implication in depression pathophysiology. The clinical significance of atypical antipsychotics as augments in depression will be discussed with a specific focus on aripiprazole. Finally the key theme i.e. aripiprzole’s dopamine effects in depression will be reviewed through hypotheses of partial agonism and functional selectivity before the general favorable tolerability of the drug is presented. The conclusion
of this essay is supportive of the significance of Aripiprazole as a dopamine stabilizer in research and drug discovery.