Editorial [HotTopic: New and Emerging Approaches to Treatment of Schizophrenia (Guest Editors: Gene G. Kinney and P. Jeffrey Conn)]

摘要

The dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia has played a dominant role in driving both basic researchrnand drug discovery efforts in the schizophrenia field for several decades, leading to several clinicallyrnuseful treatments that alter dopamine neurotransmission. It is notable that blockade of the dopamine D2rnreceptor produces an antipsychotic effect in humans. However, these treatments are not typically effectivernagainst the full scope of symptoms found in this disease and D2 antagonists also induce a number ofrnadverse effects that limit their use. However, recent years have seen major advances in our understandingrnof dopaminergic systems in the central nervous system as well as pathophysiological changes that mayrnunderlie different aspects of schizophrenia. These advances have led to a number of novel approaches thatrnare currently being pursued in efforts to develop new treatments that have fewer adverse effects than andrnare effective in treatment of symptom clusters that are not effectively treated by current drugs.