Antipsychotics (also called neuroleptics) are a group of psychoactive drugs commonly but not exclusively used to treat psychosis, which is typified by schizophrenia, but can also be present in severe bipolar disorder. Over time a wide range of antipsychotics have been developed. A first generation of antipsychotics, known as typical antipsychotics, was discovered in the 1950s.

Most of the drugs in the second generation, known as atypical antipsychotics, have more recently been developed, although the first atypical anti-psychotic, clozapine, was discovered in the 1950s, and introduced clinically in the 1970s. Both classes of medication tend to block receptors in the brain's dopamine pathways, but antipsychotic drugs encompass a wide range of receptor targets. A number of side effects have been observed in relation to specific medications, including weight gain, agranulocytosis, tardive dyskinesia, tardive akathisia, tardive psychoses, and tardive dysphrenia.

The development of new antipsychotics, and the relative efficacy of different ones, is an important ongoing field of research. The most appropriate drug for an individual patient requires careful consideration. Antipsychotics are also referred to as neuroleptic drugs.

The word neuroleptic is derived from Greek: "νεύρον" (originally meaning sinew but today referring to the nerves) and "λαμβάνω" (meaning take hold of). Thus, the word means taking hold of one's nerves. This may refer to common side effects such as reduced activity, lethargy, and impaired motor control.

Although these effects are unpleasant and in some cases harmful, they were at one time considered a reliable sign that the drug was working. Modern treatment protocols and new medications have reduced the severity of these side effects, and the term "neuroleptic" is being abandoned in favor of "antipsychotic," which refers to the drug's desired effects. Antipsychotics are broadly divided into two groups, the typical or first-generation antipsychotics and the atypical or second-generation antipsychotics.

The typical antipsychotics are classified according to their chemical structure while the atypical antipsychotics are classified according to their pharmacological properties. These include serotonin-dopamine antagonists (see dopamine antagonist and serotonin antagonist), multi-acting receptor-targeted antipsychotics (MARTA, those targeting several systems), and dopamine partial agonists, which are often categorized as atypicals.

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