The new neuroscience based nomenclature of neuropsychotropic drugs: A chance for a better understanding and teaching of clinical psychopharmacology

Abstract

Traditional psychopharmacological terminology is based on historical grounds and under different aspects not systematic and rational. It even tends to confuse patients by prescribing a drug that does not reflect their identified diagnosis, prescribing “antipsychotics” to depression. Four major colleges of neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP, ACNP, Asian CNP, an CINP) proposed a new multi-axial pharmacologically-driven nomenclature. The template has five axes: 1- class (primary pharmacological target and relevant mechanism); 2- family (reflecting the relevant neurotransmitter and mechanism); 3- neurobiological activities; 4- efficacy and major side effects; and 5- approved indications. The results of the surveys suggest that the clinicians found the available indication-based nomenclature system dissatisfactory, non-intuitive, confusing, and doubt-inducing for them and the patients. The proposed five-axis template seeks to upend current usage bay placing pharmacology rather than indication as the primary axes. With the proposed nomenclature relating primarily to Axis 1 – the class, and usage of the other axes would largely depend the extent to which the clinician seeks to deepen the scientific and clinical base of his involvement.Disclosure of interestThe author has not supplied his declaration of competing interest.