There are "classic" antipsychotics and atypical antipsychotics. The atypical ones are used for bipolars (where indicated or approved) to enhance mania or depression treatment, primarily Abilify and Geodon. Abilify enhances primarily depression that doesn't respond well to other antidepressants and Geodon helps with mania and/or hypomania. They are often added to already existing treatments in small doses. The other classic antipsychotics are just what they sound like, antipsychotics, used for classic psychosis. A psychosis is when one experiences sounds, sights, or thoughts that are outside the realm of reality but the person believes them to be real. Examples would be voices of persons not present, paranoia, seeing alien beings, flashbacks from war, or any other imagined condition that could even place themselves or others in danger. Even delusions can be considered psychoses, such as delusions of superpowers. The delusion that one can fly would certainly place them in danger, along with anyone they might land on! (Not trying to be funny.) So, classic antipsychotics are used to treat these symptoms. I'm not a mental health professional and I'm sure I've left a lot out of this explanation but maybe this has helped a little.