History of psychopharmacology in Korea since 1885 was reviewed, when western medicine was firstly introduced to Korea. Barbiturates and fever therapy had been main therapies for mental patients until 1940s. The true era of psychopharmacology started around 1960 with introduction to Korea of chlorpromazine followed by other phenothiazines and meprobamate. Since then, Korean psychopharmacology has developed following international development in psychopharmacology and neuroscience. Around 1990s, second generations of antidepressants and antipsychotic agents had been introduced to Korea. These days, most major psychotherapeutic drugs have become available in Korea soon after they appeared in world market. Meanwhile most researches were clinical ones until 1990s. However basic researches have been limited due to not only lack of financial support but poor conditions for research. Recently general condition for research are improving with general economical development of Korea. Many young researchers have returned to Korea after years of training abroad and are leading researches and international activities. Future directions for researches in psychopharmacology and for activities of Korean College of Neuropsychopharmacology (KCNP) are discussed related to future social changes and especially focused on integration of drug treatment with psychosocial treatment.
Antidepressive Agents ; Antipsychotic Agents ; Barbiturates ; Chlorpromazine ; Family Characteristics ; Financial Support ; Humans ; Hyperthermia, Induced ; Korea* ; Mentally Ill Persons ; Meprobamate ; Neurosciences ; Phenothiazines ; Psychopharmacology* ; Social Change