Atypical antipsychotics are the second generation of medications developed to treat psychotic disorders. These medications are helpful in improving the disordered thinking, emotional responses, and behaviors of people with other mental disorders. Smaller doses are also used to decrease the overactive emotional responses and impulsivity, and in improving the abilities to think and reason. They can also help reduce depressed moods, anger and anxiety. Finally, there is also a reduction in paranoid thinking.

Atypical antipsychotics are said to alter certain dopamine, or dopamine and serotonin, receptors. Abnormal activity in the two neurotransmitters are known risk factors for BPD.

One of the risks of atypical antipsychotics is developing an abnormal, involuntary movement disorder call tardive dyskinesia. People taking a low dose for BPD have a low risk for developing the disorder, but it is still a concern. Other known side-effects are weight gain, drowsiness, insomnia, breast engorgement, and restlessness.