Molecular Biology Of Neuropsychiatric Disorders

It is generally accepted that neuropsychiatric disorders have a biological basis. Pathological changes leading to illness have been confirmed for Alzheimer’s (amyloid plaques) and Parkinson’s disease (loss of dopaminergic transmission) and are the foundation for studies on the molecular biology of these disorders. For other neuropsychiatric disorders, in particular for schizophrenic and affective disorders, molecular causes appear to be more complex and therefore remain hypothetical, despite decades of research. Changes in a number of neuronal pathways and structures have been reported to be associated with these disorders and are currently under extensive investigation. The present volume reviews recent knowledge with emphasis on ongoing research findings. Current hypotheses based on these findings are described and discussed.

The fourth volume in the Molecular and Cell Biology of Neuropsychiatric Diseases series provides a comprehensive, timely review of the use of modern biological techniques in the investigation of the major neuropsychiatric diseases. The scope of the book is wide, and an introductory section at the beginning of each chapter enables non-specialist and specialist alike to appreciate the significance of this research.

Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science, Volume 167, provides the most topical, informative and exciting monographs available on a wide variety of research topics related to Models and Biological Targets in Drug Discovery for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Novel Targets for Parkinson-Depression Co-morbidity. Utility of Cannabidiol (CBD) in Neuropsychiatric Disorders: A Short Review of the Recent Pre-clinical and Clinical Findings, The Many Sides of Microglia in Alcohol Use Disorders, Stress, Anxiety, Molecular Targets and More, Calcineurin Signaling in Psychiatric Disorders, Emerging Evidence for the Role of Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase- Activating Peptide (PACAP) in Neuropsychiatric Disorders, and more. Includes comprehensive coverage of molecular biology Presents ample use of tables, diagrams, schemata and color figures to enhance the reader's ability to rapidly grasp the information provided Contains contributions from renowned experts in the field

This text offers a comprehensive introduction to molecular biology, genetics, and neurobiology relevant to psychiatry. Generously illustrated chapters are organized to be read at both an introductory and a more advanced level. Both beginners and advanced professionals will benefit from this text's discussion of how psychotropic drugs work and how gene-environment interactions may contribute to the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders. The authors demonstrate how molecular investigations in psychiatry will revolutionize the field by leading to improved diagnostic testing, to new and more effective treatments, and ultimately to the development of preventive measures for mental illness.

The development of more effective treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders requires scientific progress on a broad front. Animal models have a vital role to play in advancing the field. When deployed in conjunction with detailed study of these diseases in man they bring the power to make controlled experimental interventions which allow the functional consequences of genetic variations and polymorphisms to be understood in terms of their cellular, systems and behavioural effects. Further, they provide a means by which complex cognitive and behavioural phenomena may be dissected and understood. Finally, they provide a bridge to understanding the effects of drugs on the functioning of the central nervous system, thereby improving our understanding of the actions of those drugs in man.

The Molecular Biology of Neurological Disease reviews advances that have been made in understanding the molecular mechanisms of neurological disorders as well as immediate and future applications of molecular biological techniques to clinical practice. This book explores the molecular genetics of neurological disease such as muscular dystrophy, Joseph disease, and Huntington's disease, along with the mitochondrial genes implicated in such conditions. This text is comprised of 18 chapters and begins by introducing the reader to the basic principles and methods of molecular genetic techniques used in the diagnosis of neurological disease. Attention then turns to several aspects of genetic expression in the brain, including the extent to which the genome is expressed in the brain. The next chapter focuses on the visualization of polyadenylated messenger RNAs in individual cells in mammalian brain using in situ hybridization techniques, combined with immunohistochemical localization of specific proteins and neuropeptides implicated in diseases such as Alzheimer dementia. This book also discusses the molecular biology of chemical synaptic neurotransmission; proteins involved in the regulation of nervous system development; and gene expression in skeletal muscle. This text then concludes with a summary of the ""neurological gene map"" as it stands in the latter part of 1987. This book is intended for physicians who grapple with the problems of neurological disorders on a daily basis, including neurologists, neurologists in training, and those in related fields such as neurosurgery, internal medicine, psychiatry, and rehabilitation medicine.

Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Epigenetics, Second Edition is a comprehensive reference on the epigenetic basis of common neuropsychiatric disorders. The volume is organized into chapters covering individual neuropsychiatric disorders, from addiction to anxiety and autism spectrum disorders, and is contributed by leading experts in their respective fields. The epigenetic aspects of each disorder are discussed in the context of the full range of associated epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA modification, histone post-translational modification, chromatin organization, and non-coding RNA. A particular emphasis is placed on potential epigenetic interventions when the effects of environmental stimuli on epigenetic states is particularly relevant to disease. This new edition has been fully updated to reflect recent research advances enabled by genomic technologies, as well as therapeutic interventions for previously unmanageable disorders. Several new chapters have been added on disorders or approaches not considered in the earlier edition, including epigenetics and anxiety disorders, epigenetics and neuroimaging in neuropsychiatric disorders, genome-wide approaches to epigenetic research, and the epigenetics of spinal muscular atrophy.

The new edition of this definitive textbook reflects the continuing reintegration of psychiatry into the mainstream of biomedical science. The research tools that are transforming other branches of medicine - epidemiology, genetics, molecular biology, imaging, and medicinal chemistry - are also transforming psychiatry. The field stands poised to make dramatic advances in defining disease pathogenesis, developing diagnostic methods capable of identifying specific and valid disease entities, discovering novel and more effective treatments, and ultimately preventing psychiatric disorders. The Neurobiology of Mental Illness is written by world-renowned experts in basic neuroscience and the pathophysiology and treatment of psychiatric disorders. It begins with a succint overview of the basic neurosciences followed by and evaluation of the tools that are available for the study of mental disorders in humans. The core of the book is a series of consistently organized sections on the major psychiatric disorders that cover their diagnostic classification, molecular genetics, functional neuroanatomy, neurochemistry and pharmacology, neuroimaging, and principles of pharmacotherapy. Chapters are written in a clear style that is easily accessible to practicing psychiatrists, and yet they are detailed enough to interest researchers and academics.For this second edition, every section has been thoroughly updated, and 13 new chapters have been added in areas where significant advances have been made, including functional genomics and animal models of illness; epidemiology; cognitive neuroscience; postmortem investigation of human brain; drug discovery methods for psychiatric disorders; the neurobiology of schizophrenia; animal models of anxiety disorders; neuroimaging studies of anxiety disorders; developmental neurobiology and childhood onset of psychiatric disorders; the neurobiology of mental retardation; the interface between neurological and psychiatric disorders; the neurobiology of circadian rhythms; and the neurobiology of sleep disorders. Both as a textbook and a reference work, Neurobiology of Mental Illness represents a uniquely valuable resource for psychiatrists, neuroscientists, and their students or trainees.