Drugs used to treat schizophrenia and other forms of severe thought disorder; examples Thorazine, Risperdal, Zyprexa; side effects include Parkinson-like symptoms and tardive dyskinesia; what are these drugs called?

• A. Antianxiety drugs (anxiolytics)
• B. Antidepressant drugs
• C. Antipsychotic drugs (neuroleptics)
• D. Psychopharmacology

Answer: (C)

The main idea is recognizing the class of drugs used to treat schizophrenia and their typical motor-related side effects. Thorazine, Risperdal, and Zyprexa are classic examples of antipsychotic drugs, also known as neuroleptics. These medications work mainly by blocking dopamine D2 receptors in brain circuits involved in mood, thought, and perception, which helps reduce symptoms like delusions and hallucinations.

However, blocking dopamine in the motor pathways can produce Parkinson-like symptoms (such as tremor, rigidity, and slowed movements) and, with long-term use, tardive dyskinesia (involuntary repetitive movements). That combination of clinical use for thought disorders and characteristic extrapyramidal side effects is what defines this drug class. Other options don’t fit because antianxiety drugs target anxiety, antidepressants target mood disorders, and psychopharmacology is the broad field rather than a specific drug class.