Sertindole, a new atypical antipsychotic for the treatment of schizophrenia.

The introduction of antipsychotics for the management of schizophrenia greatly improved the quality of life of many patients suffering from this debilitating disease. Although typical antipsychotic drugs represent a significant advancement in psychopharmacology, they carry a heavy side effect burden, have little efficacy in the management of negative symptoms, and are ineffective in about one-third of patients with schizophrenia. Atypical antipsychotic agents characterized the next major advancement in pharmacotherapy. They differ from typical antipsychotics in their mechanism of action, side effect profiles, and clinical efficacy. Sertindole is a new atypical antipsychotic.