How can drug discovery for psychiatric disorders be improved?

Abstract

Psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety and schizophrenia are leading causes of disability worldwide, and have a huge societal impact. However, despite the clear need for better therapies, and major advances in the understanding of the molecular basis of these disorders in recent years, efforts to discover and develop new drugs for neuropsychiatric disorders, particularly those that might revolutionize disease treatment, have been relatively unsuccessful. A multidisciplinary approach will be crucial in addressing this problem, and in the first Advances in Neuroscience for Medical Innovation symposium, experts in multiple areas of neuroscience considered key questions in the field, in particular those related to the importance of neuronal plasticity. The discussions were used as a basis to propose steps that can be taken to improve the effectiveness of drug discovery for psychiatric disorders.

A 20-week program of resistance or concurrent exercise improves symptoms of schizophrenia: results of a blind, randomized controlled trial

“…24,25 This finding was reinforced by Agid et al, who showed different pathways for BDNF/TrkB (tyrosine-related kinase B) and IGF-1/IGF-1R (insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor) in the neurotransmitter systems involved in schizophrenia, culminating in benefits in neuroplasticity. 26 IGFBP-3, the most prevalent binding protein, carries most of the serum IGFs, regulating their actions and controlling their distribution to target tissues. The IGF-IGFBP-3 axis is involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases.…”

Perspectives on Zebrafish Models of Hallucinogenic Drugs and Related Psychotropic Compounds

“…1,2 Animal (experimental) models have long been used in translational neuroscience to study brain mechanisms and their effects on behavior. 3,4 Environmental, genetic, and pharmacological manipulations are widely used to probe brain mechanisms and circuits in various animal models.…”

Involvement of norepinephrine and serotonin system in antidepressant-like effects of hederagenin in the rat model of unpredictable chronic mild stress-induced depression

“…The most widely used antidepressants, the serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are administered to depressive patients with an underlying dysfunction in the serotonin (5-HT) system, or in other neurotransmitter systems or circuits that are modulated by 5-HT (Gingrich & Hen, 2001;Hen, 1996;Nestler et al, 2002). Many current and potential therapies for depression are focused on either directly or indirectly modulating the serotonergic system (Agid et al, 2007). Recently, increasing evidence demonstrated that the levels of monoamine neurotransmitters were decreased by UCMS and reversed by the administration of antidepressants (Bekris et al, 2005;Savegnago et al, 2007).…”