Update Psychopharmacotherapy.

Abstract

Despite unmet meeds regarding efficacy, tolerability and time of onset and the high importance of mental disorders very few new psychotropics have been introduced in Germany recently. Lurasidon and the new multimodal antidepressant vortioxetine demonstrating clinical efficacy in the improvement of cognition have been withdrawn from the German market due to economic reasons based on an official committee judgement „missing additional benefit“. Among new substances introduced are the selective opioid modulator nalmefene for reduction of alcohol consumption, the selective alpha-2-receptor agonist guanfacine for ADHS treatment in child and youth psychiatry, the older antidepressant milnacipran and the glucagon-like-peptide-1-receptor agonist liraglutide for treatment of adipositas. In the USA the atypical antipsychotics cariprazine and brexpiprazole have been released. The introduction of the long acting depot antipsychotics aripiprazole (1 month) and paliperidone (3 months) can be seen as major progress in the treatment of schizophrenia. Loxapine is available as inhalative antipsychotic for rapid treatment of agitation in schizophrenia and mania. Atypical antipsychotics like quetiapine are recommended now as add-on treatment for therapy-resistant depressions. Ketamine and botulinum toxin are in experimental use as antidepressants. The development of psychotropics is long lasting and costly and made even more difficult by negative medial attitudes additionally. Constructive resolving attempts are needed urgently to avoid a standstill in the development of psychotropic drugs.