Therapeutic Role of 5‐HT1A Receptors in The Treatment of Schizophrenia and Parkinson's Disease

SUMMARY 5‐HT1A receptors have long been implicated in the pathogenesis and treatment of anxiety and depressive disorders. Recently, several lines of studies have revealed new insights into the therapeutic role of 5‐HT1A receptors in treating schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease. Specifically, 5‐HT1A receptors seem to be a promising target for alleviating antipsychotic‐induced extrapyramidal side effects (EPS) and cognitive/affective disorders in schizophrenia. In the treatment of patients with Parkinson's disease, 5‐HT1A agonists are expected to improve not only affective symptoms (e.g., anxiety and depression), but also the core parkinsonian symptoms as well as antiparkinsonian agents‐induced side effects (e.g., L‐DOPA‐induced dyskinesia). Here, the therapeutic mechanisms mediated by 5‐HT1A receptors in schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease are reviewed. This evidence should encourage discovery of new 5‐HT1A ligands, which can resolve the unmet clinical needs in the current therapy.