ABSTRACT

I. INTRODUCTION This, the largest category of drugs with a common utility, that of central nervous system activity, is divided into agents used in the treatment of psychiatric disorders: the antianxiety agents or minor tranquilizers, the antipsychotic agents (neuroleptics) or major tranquilizers, and the antidepressants; agents that depress the central nervous system (CNS), the hypnotics and sedatives; and agents that stimulate the CNS, including the appetite suppressants and anorectic agents. Another important group of centrally acting agents, the anticonvulsants, are included in the preceding chapter owing to the large size of that group. Several other drug classes of centrally acting drugs (i.e., anesthetics and psychogenic agents) are included in separate chapters.