Molindone, sold under the brand name Moban, is an antipsychotic medication which is used in the United States in the treatment of schizophrenia.

[2][1] Molindone is thought to work by blocking the effects of dopamine in the brain, leading to diminished symptoms of psychosis.

[9] The drug has been repurposed and is being developed for potential treatment of aggression in children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

[14] The preceding findings suggest that molindone is pharmacologically distinct from most atypical antipsychotics, which act as potent antagonists of both the D2 and 5-HT2A receptors.

[14] Additional binding data on molindone are also available and in some cases have found contrasting results relative to the above findings, for instance high affinity for the dopamine D3 receptor.

[7] In animals, it reduces spontaneous locomotor activity, inhibits conditioned avoidance responses, produces catalepsy and hypothermia, and limits aggression in monkeys.

[2][1] It shows little anticholinergic activity in animals and its lack of histamine H1 receptor antagonism suggests less potential for sedation and weight gain than certain other antipsychotics.

[2] It is unclear whether the monoamine oxidase inhibition of molindone observed in preclinical research occurs therapeutically in humans or is clinically significant.

Condensation of oximinoketone 2 (from nitrosation of 3-pentanone), with cyclohexane-1,3-dione (1) in the presence of zinc and acetic acid leads directly to the partly reduced indole derivative 6.

[2] Molindone was found to reduce aggressive symptoms, including agitation, hostility, and uncooperativeness, in adults with schizophrenia in the 1970s.

[26] Subsequently, molindone was found to potentially be effective in the treatment of hospitalized aggressive children with conduct disorder in a clinical trial comparing it with thioridazine in the 1980s.

[10][11][27] This study eventually led to molindone being developed for treatment of impulsive aggression in youth much later on.

[10] Low-dose extended-release molindone (developmental code name SPN-810) is under development for the treatment of impulsive aggression in children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

[12] The exact mechanism of action of molindone for this indication is unknown, but has been proposed to be related to dopamine D2 and serotonin 5-HT2B receptor antagonism.