Which neurotransmitter is primarily targeted by medications used to treat schizophrenia?

Medications used to treat schizophrenia primarily target dopamine. This is crucial because schizophrenia is believed to be associated with an imbalance in dopamine levels in certain areas of the brain. The dopamine hypothesis suggests that an overactivity of dopaminergic pathways, particularly in the mesolimbic pathway, contributes to the positive symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations and delusions.

Antipsychotic medications, which form the backbone of schizophrenia treatment, are designed to reduce dopamine activity, thereby alleviating these symptoms. They do this primarily by blocking dopamine receptors, especially the D2 subtype, which is particularly relevant in the treatment of acute psychotic episodes and other schizophrenia-related symptoms.

Other neurotransmitters mentioned, such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and GABA, play different roles in mood regulation and anxiety but are not the primary focus in the pharmacological treatment of schizophrenia. While some atypical antipsychotics do also affect serotonin pathways, the primary mechanism in treating schizophrenia focuses on dopamine modulation.