Antipsychotics are prescribed to treat a variety of mental health conditions, including:

• Schizophrenia. Thought disorder that makes it difficult for patients to distinguish between real and unreal experiences.
  
  
• Schizoaffective disorder. A condition in which a person exhibits signs of both schizophrenia and a mood disorder.
  
  
• Mood disorders. Antipsychotics may be used to treat psychotic symptoms experienced by patients with mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder.
  
  
• Delusional disorders. A condition characterized by at least one false belief that lasts for one month or longer.
  
  
• Schizotypal personality disorder. A condition marked by a pattern of problems in interpersonal relationships and disturbances in thought patterns, appearance and behavior. Patients exhibit odd beliefs and behaviors, but are not disconnected from reality.
  
  
• Borderline personality disorder. A condition characterized by impulsivity and instability in mood, self-image and personal relationships. This disorder is diagnosed more often in females than in males, and may be caused by both psychological and biological factors.
  
  
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Anxiety disorder marked by obsessions (recurrent and intrusive thoughts, feelings, ideas or sensations) and/or compulsions (conscious, recurrent patterns of behavior(s) a person feels driven to perform). Antipsychotics may be prescribed in severe cases of OCD.
  
  
• Tourette’s syndrome. An abnormal condition characterized by verbal outbursts, tics and other movements, such as eye blinks or facial twitches, that cannot be controlled. Certain types of antipsychotics are used to treat this condition.
  
  
• Autism-related irritability. One antipsychotic drug (risperidone) was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of irritability associated with autism in children and adolescents.

Antipsychotics may also be prescribed to treat psychosis that results from some medications (e.g., stimulants), recreational drugs or conditions.

In addition, antipsychotics are increasingly being prescribed in an “off-label” manner by physicians for the psychosis associated with conditions such as dementia and depression. Off-label prescription means that a drug can be used for a purpose other than which it was originally intended, and that was not approved by the FDA.