A class of drugs producing both physiological and psychological effects through a variety of mechanisms. They can be divided into "specific" agents, e.g., affecting an identifiable molecular mechanism unique to target cells bearing receptors for that agent, and "nonspecific" agents, those producing effects on different target cells and acting by diverse molecular mechanisms. Those with nonspecific mechanisms are generally further classed according to whether they produce behavioral depression or stimulation. Those with specific mechanisms are classed by locus of action or specific therapeutic use. (From Gilman AG, et al., Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 8th ed, p252)

Descriptor ID	D002491
MeSH Number(s)	D27.505.954.427
Concept/Terms	Central Nervous System Agents Central Nervous System Agents Central Nervous System Drugs

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more general than "Central Nervous System Agents".

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is related to "Central Nervous System Agents".

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more specific than "Central Nervous System Agents".