The Psychiatric clinics of North America
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Psychiatr. Clin. North Am. · Jun 2006
ReviewAnimal models of obsessive-compulsive disorder: rationale to understanding psychobiology and pharmacology.
Animal models have shown progressive development and have undoubtedly proven their supportive value in OCD research. Thus, various animal models have confirmed the importance of the 5-HT [72-74] and dopamine systems [104,111] in the neurobiology and treatment of OCD. Given the neurochemical, emotional, and cognitive complexity of the disorder, how-ever, animal models are being used to investigate more and more complicated neurochemical and behavioral theories purported to underlie OCD. ⋯ Although studies to investigate further the interactive role of 5-HT, dopamine, GABA, and glutamate are still needed, the role of neuroactive peptides such as cholecystokinin, corticotrophin-releasing factor, neuropeptide Y, tachykinins (ie, substance P),and natriuretic peptides in OCD should also be considered. Genetically engineered animal models will become increasingly valuable in combination with new technologies such as gene-chip microarrays, RNA interference, and advanced proteomics that will help further the understanding of OCD. Animal models of OCD are poised to play a vital role in extending the knowledge of the disorder now and in the future.
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Psychiatr. Clin. North Am. · Sep 2005
ReviewNeurobehavioral aspects of cerebral white matter disorders.
The study of higher function in humans requires a consideration of all the neural tissues in the brain. Long neglected as a contributor to the organization of cognitive and emotional operations, the cerebral white matter is now the subject of substantial effort to improve understanding. Among the many approaches that can address this area usefully, the study of individuals with white matter disorders offers a wealth of clinical insights that exploits the time-tested lesion method of behavioral neurology. ⋯ In practical terms, an appreciation of the neurobehavioral importance of white matter disorders can be of great benefit for patients seen by neurologists and psychiatrists alike, especially because early recognition and treatment often can have an important influence on outcome. In theoretical terms, a focus on the white matter and its disorders promises to expand knowledge of the brain as an extraordinarily complex organ in which the connectivity provided by white matter is central to cognition, emotion, and consciousness itself. As the details of white matter structure and function become clarified, a more complete portrait of the organ of the mind can be anticipated.
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Psychiatr. Clin. North Am. · Jun 2005
Review Comparative StudyMood-stabilizing drugs: are their neuroprotective aspects clinically relevant?
The possibility that there may be subtypes of bipolar disorder and the slow progress in understanding the therapeutic mechanism for approved mood-stabilizing drugs make the challenges of intelligent drug design seem daunting. Nonetheless, the numerous shortcomings in current pharmaco-therapy underscore the need to develop novel therapies. There are significant problems with currently approved mood-stabilizing drugs: 1. ⋯ More work needs to be done to assess whether these effects occur in animal models for bipolar disorder. The proof of principle for supporting the claim that the neuroprotective or neurogenic properties are important clinically will come from longitudinal clinical studies that compare brain morphology and function before and during treatment. If enough evidence supports the hypothesis that the neuroprotective and neurogenic properties of mood-stabilizing drugs are important for their clinical efficacy, new medications that are more efficacious and have fewer side effects will be designed based on this discovery.