What is the purpose of antipsychotic medications?

Antipsychotic medications are primarily used to manage symptoms of psychosis, which can include delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking, and other disturbances in perception or thought processes. These symptoms are often associated with conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and severe depression.

Antipsychotics work by altering the effects of neurotransmitters in the brain, particularly dopamine, which plays a key role in regulating mood and behavior. By addressing the imbalance of these chemicals, antipsychotic medications can help to stabilize mood and improve overall functioning in individuals experiencing psychotic disorders.

The other options do not accurately represent the primary function of antipsychotic medications. For instance, improving cognitive function and enhancing mood pertains more to other classes of medications, such as antidepressants and cognitive enhancers, while relieving muscle pain is targeted by analgesics and muscle relaxants, not antipsychotics.