A substituted indole compound having the formula I: ##STR1## where Ar is one of a phenyl group, a phenyl group substituted with at least one substituent selected from halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, hydroxy, trifluoromethyl, and cyano, and a hetero aromatic group selected from 2-thienyl, 3-thienyl, 2-furanyl, 3-furanyl, 2-oxazolyl, 2-imidazolyl, 2-pyridyl, 3-pyridyl, and 4-pyridyl; each dotted line is an optional double bond; X and X' are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, hydroxy, lower alkylthio, lower alkylsulfonyl, lower alkylamino, lower dialkylamino, cyano, trifluoromethyl, and trifluoromethylthio; or X and X' are taken together to form a 5 to 7 membered carbocyclic ring; R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl and lower alkyl substituted with one or two hydroxy groups; with the proviso that when X is hydrogen or fluoro then R.sup.1 cannot be hydrogen; R is a substituent having the formula Ib: ##STR2## wherein n is an integer from 2-6 inclusive; W is oxygen or sulfur; V.sup.1 is selected from OR.sup.4, SR.sup.5, CHR.sup.6 R.sup.7, and NR.sup.8 R.sup.9 ;wherein R.sup.3 to R.sup.9 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, cycloalkyl, lower alkyl substituted with one or two hydroxyl groups, and lower alkenyl substituted with one or two hydroxyl groups; and pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts or prodrugs thereof for the therapeutic treatment of CNS disorders.