The first human trial of a new schizophrenia drug has yielded promising results, report scientists.
What sets apart the experimental drug from all other antipsychotics is its target in the brain - glutamate receptors rather than dopamine.

Patients treated with "LY2140023" showed improvements in symptoms and few side effects.

Experts said the Nature Medicine study, by drug firm Eli Lilly, was promising and should prompt further trials.

Schizophrenia affects around 1% of the population - as many as are affected by diabetes.

Schizophrenia can be thought of in terms of experiencing episodes during which reality is perceived differently.

This might mean hallucinating - seeing or hearing things that others do not - or having delusions where a person has unfounded beliefs that they are perhaps being persecuted or that they are famous.

There are many antipsychotic drugs available to help alleviate these symptoms, but patients can experience serious side effects such a violent tremor, similar to that experienced by Parkinson's disease sufferers.

For some, the side effects are so distressing that they may stop taking their medicine and risk a relapse.

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SOURCE: BBC News Online