Is psychosis a neurobiological syndrome?

Development of novel antipsychotic agents by inhibiting dopamine transporter – in silico approach

Various in silico methods were employed for the development of antipsychotic agents by dopamine transporter inhibition.

Psychiatric disorders and traumatic brain injury

Psychiatric disorders after traumatic brain injury (TBI) are frequent. Researches in this area are important for the patients' care and they may provide hints for the comprehension of primary psychiatric disorders. Here we approach epidemiology, diagnosis, associated factors and treatment of the main psychiatric disorders after TBI. Finally, the present situation of the knowledge in this field is discussed.

Is There A Common Neuronal Basis for Autism and Catatonia?

Neuronal bases for autism and catatonia are unknown although integrative theories may soon become feasible as research in autism and catatonia advances. Catatonia and autism may both qualify as neurobiological syndromes in their own right. There is emerging evidence that catatonia may be a common syndrome in autism. Although the relation between autism and catatonia is unclear, coexpression of autism and catatonia may be due to abnormalities in common neuronal circuitries. This possibility constitutes another level of complexity to neurobiological inquiry, but also provides an opportunity to advance our understanding of both disorders. There is a great potential benefit in studying the relation between catatonia and autism in order to focus future research on subtype-specific causes and treatments. Future research avenues are outlined.

Diagnosing schizophrenia circa 2005: how and why?

Since the introduction of the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition in 1980, schizophrenia has been widely diagnosed with good to excellent levels of reliability. This is no small feat, as prior to the 1970s the reliability of this diagnosis over time and place was very poor. Although there have been some changes in the diagnostic algorithm for schizophrenia with subsequent revisions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, there has been little change in the overall classification scheme. However, there has also been relatively little movement toward enhancing the validity of this diagnosis. Although there is broad consensus that what we now call schizophrenia is probably very heterogeneous with respect to underlying etiology and pathophysiology, attempts to identify more valid subtypes or dimensions have not progressed to the point that they are likely to be incorporated into diagnostic systems any time soon. The limited progress in defining more valid disease categories has increasingly important clinical implications as the field moves more and more to treatment by preset algorithms that are typically driven by diagnosis.