ABSTRACT
The first synthetic drugs to be used in treatment of neurological and psychological conditions were the barbiturates introduced in the early 1900s which acted as sedatives and hypnotics. Observation of the antiepileptic effects of phenobarbital led to the discovery of other antiseizure drugs, especially phenytoin. A number of other antiepileptic drugs have subsequently been introduced. The first drug with antipsychotic activity, chlorpromazine, was recognized in France in 1952. It was followed by a number of others, including chlozapine. The antianxiety benzodiazepines were discovered in 1955. Antidepressants include monamine oxidase inhibitors, tricyclic, and selective uptake inhibitors. The amphetamines, beginning with benzidrine in the 1930s, have had both medical and illicit use. Several have been used as appetite suppressants for weight-loss, but this use has been restricted because of side effects. Methyl phenidate, used in treatment attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), is also a member of the amphetamine class. Both the discovery and evaluation of psychologically active drugs are complicated by the absence of specific bioanalytical criteria. The diagnosis and evaluation of psychological disorders are based on criteria defined by the American Psychiatric Association Diagnostics and Statistical Manual, the most recent edition of which was published in 2013.
