Antipsychotic drugs, such as Haldol, are used to treat all of the following except ________.

• A. schizophrenia
• B. major depressive disorder with psychotic symptoms
• C. generalized anxiety disorder
• D. bipolar disorder with psychotic features

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the primary use of antipsychotic drugs. These medications are mainly prescribed to manage symptoms of psychosis, which include hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking, commonly seen in disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder with psychotic features.
2. Step 2: Review the conditions listed in the problem: schizophrenia, major depressive disorder with psychotic symptoms, generalized anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder with psychotic features. Identify which of these typically involve psychotic symptoms.
3. Step 3: Recognize that schizophrenia, major depressive disorder with psychotic symptoms, and bipolar disorder with psychotic features all involve psychosis, making antipsychotic drugs appropriate treatments for these conditions.
4. Step 4: Understand that generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized primarily by excessive anxiety and worry without psychotic symptoms, so antipsychotic drugs are generally not used to treat GAD.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the exception in the list—the condition for which antipsychotic drugs like Haldol are not typically prescribed—is generalized anxiety disorder.