Most of these studies have focused on the neurotransmitter called dopamine . Drugs that block dopamine have side effects like Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's disease is cause by a lack of dopamine in a parts of the brain called the basal ganglia. The best drugs resemble dopamine and completely block dopamine receptors, thus reducing schizophrenic symptoms. Amphetamine psychosis is a model for schizophrenia since drugs that block amphetamine psychosis also reduce schizophrenic symptoms.
Amphetamines also make the symptoms of schizophrenia worse.
Children at risk for schizophrenia may have brain wave patterns like adult schizophrenics. These abnormal brain wave patterns in children can be reduced by drugs that block dopamine receptors. They also alter other neurotransmitters. Drugs that block dopamine receptor act on receptors quickly, but the behavior of people with schizophrenia sometimes takes many days to change. The effects of dopamine blockers may be indirect.