Improving Current Treatments for Schizophrenia
ABSTRACT
After the identification of the schizophrenia as an illness over a century ago, treatment of affected individuals included unspecific, mostly very robust methods including deep insulin coma and lobectomy/leucotomy. The first relatively specific treatment of schizophrenia started about 60 years ago with the antipsychotic chlorpromazine. All currently approved antipsychotic drugs block dopamine receptors, indicating that manipulation of dopaminergic function is fundamental to a therapeutic response in psychosis. Despite refinements in their mechanism of action, the therapeutic effects of subsequent generation...
Source: Drug Development Research - September 15, 2016 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Nadja P. Maric, Milica J. Jovicic, Marina Mihaljevic, Cedo Miljevic Tags: Research Overview Source Type: research
New Horizons in Pediatric Psychopharmacology
ABSTRACT
Recent advances in pediatric psychopharmacology have been rather uneven. Increased use of psychotropic drugs among the pediatric population has raised concerns regarding their inappropriate use and safety. While clinical trials have been conducted on various pediatric psychopharmacological drugs, there has been an insignificant amount of importance to innovation in holistic treatment. A rational approach toward elucidating the various challenges would be contingent on the convergence of the development of novel efficacious psychotropic drugs with concrete conceptual frameworks and guidelines fostering enhan...
Source: Drug Development Research - September 15, 2016 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Sarah Khan, Vijaylaxmi Rathore, Shahida Khan Tags: Research Commentary Source Type: research
Lithium Pharmacogenetics: Where Do We Stand?
ABSTRACT
Bipolar disorder (BPD) is a chronic and disabling psychiatric disorder with a prevalence of 0.8–1.2% in the general population. Although lithium is considered the first‐line treatment, a large percentage of patients do not respond sufficiently. Moreover, lithium can induce severe side effects and has poor tolerance and a narrow therapeutic index. The genetics of lithium response has been largely investigated, but findings have so far failed to identify reliable biomarkers to predict clinical response. This has been largely determined by the highly complex phenotipic and genetic architecture of lithium r...
Source: Drug Development Research - September 15, 2016 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Claudia Pisanu, Carla Melis, Alessio Squassina Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
Nanomedicine in Psychiatry: New Therapeutic Opportunities from Research on Small RNAs
ABSTRACT
Alterations in small non‐coding RNAs have been observed in many human disease states including cancer, cardiovascular, developmental, neurological, and psychiatric disorders. These molecules have recently raised the interest of the scientific community for novel therapeutic approaches. Nanotechnologies, including the development of sophisticated nanoparticles, offer new ways for the delivery of small RNA‐based therapies. The nanoparticle delivery method appears attractive, but so far most of the work in this area has been conducted in the context of cancer. New therapeutic strategies are needed for psyc...
Source: Drug Development Research - September 15, 2016 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Elena Milanesi, Carlo Maj, Luisella Bocchio ‐Chiavetto, Elisabetta Maffioletti Tags: Research Overview Source Type: research
The Molecular Basis of Insomnia: Implication for Therapeutic Approaches
ABSTRACT
Insomnia is one of the most common sleep disorders that is characterized by difficulty in sleep initiation, sleep maintenance, and/or poor sleep quality. Treatment for insomnia includes both pharmacological and non‐pharmacological interventions. Recently, the development of pharmacological treatment for insomnia has been prompted by the understanding of the molecular neurobiology of sleep‐wake regulation. For pharmacological treatment, benzodiazepines that target GABAergic system are the most widely used hypnotics. Besides GABA, the hypocretin/orexin system, and the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (H...
Source: Drug Development Research - September 3, 2016 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Zi ‐Jun Wang, Jian‐Feng Liu Tags: Research Overview Source Type: research
S ‐Adenosyl Methionine in the Therapy of Depression and Other Psychiatric Disorders
ABSTRACT
S‐adenosyl methionine (SAM) is a major methyl donor and as such exerts its influence on CNS function through methylation reactions, such as methylation of several catecholamine moiety‐containing neurotransmitters, epigenetic changes through methylation of DNA, RNA, RNA‐binding proteins and histones, and phospholipid methylation. Based on available evidence, SAM is currently recommended as a next‐step (second‐line) treatment option following inadequate treatment response to a first‐line antidepressant. It shows significant promise in the treatment of pediatric and perinatal depression, as well as...
Source: Drug Development Research - September 3, 2016 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Nata ša Karas Kuželički Tags: Research Overview Source Type: research
Psychotropic Drug Development Strategies that Target Neuropsychiatric Etiologies in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases
ABSTRACT
Neuropsychiatric symptoms are currently recognized as a common burden in patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and many other neurodegenerative disorders. Earlier theories positing that these symptoms emerge predominantly in patients with late‐stage disease have been largely dismissed. It is now generally accepted that many neuropsychiatric symptoms commonly manifest very early in neurodegenerative disease stages, and in many cases are even considered prodromal indicators. Despite intense research efforts, no reliable drug treatment strategies have been found for the ...
Source: Drug Development Research - August 31, 2016 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Cornelis J. Van der Schyf Tags: Review Source Type: research
Recent Developments of Hydrazide/Hydrazone Derivatives and Their Analogs as Anticonvulsant Agents in Animal Models
ABSTRACT
Epilepsy is a chronic devastating neurological disorder characterized by synchronous interictal discharges. Treatment with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) can alleviate spontaneous seizure activity without preventing the progression and development of epileptogenesis. Current design and development of new AEDs and strategies for the prevention of epilepsy is focused mainly on attenuating uncontrolled seizures, severe side effects and toxicity in chronic drug therapy. It has thus become necessary to discover new chemical pharmacophores with a broad spectrum of activity and less neurotoxicity. Hydrazide/hydrazone ...
Source: Drug Development Research - August 31, 2016 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Violina Angelova, Valentin Karabeliov, Pavlina A. Andreeva ‐Gateva, Jana Tchekalarova Tags: Research Overview Source Type: research
From Gutenberg to Open Science: An Unfulfilled Odyssey
ABSTRACT
With the almost global availability of the Internet comes the expectation of universal accessibility to knowledge, including scientific knowledge‐particularly that generated by public funding. Currently this is not the case. In this Commentary we discuss access to this knowledge, the politics that govern peer review and publication, and the role of this knowledge as a public good in medicine.
With the almost global availability of the Internet comes the expectation of universal accessibility to knowledge, including scientific knowledge‐particularly that generated by public funding. Currently this is not...
Source: Drug Development Research - August 31, 2016 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Chris R. Triggle, David J. Triggle Tags: Research Commentary Source Type: research
Epigenetic Treatment of Persistent Viral Infections
ABSTRACT
Approximately 2,500 years ago, Hippocrates used the word herpes as a medical term to describe lesions that appeared to creep or crawl on the skin, advocating heat as a possible treatment. During the last 50 years, pharmaceutical research has made great strides, and therapeutic options have expanded to include small molecule antiviral agents, protease inhibitors, preventive vaccines for a handful of the papillomaviruses, and even cures for hepatitis C virus infections. However, effective treatments for persistent and recurrent viral infections, particularly the highly prevalent herpesviruses, continue to rep...
Source: Drug Development Research - August 31, 2016 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Walter H. Moos, Carl A. Pinkert, Michael H. Irwin, Douglas V. Faller, Krishna Kodukula, Ioannis P. Glavas, Kosta Steliou Tags: Research Review Source Type: research
Do Circadian Rhythms Draw the Patterns of Sustained Mental Vigor and Ailment?
ABSTRACT
Circadian rhythms are fundamental processes in all cells that coordinate a variety of cellular functions related to a specific time of the day. Disruption of circadian rhythms markedly impacts homeostasis. In this Commentary, we present data that disruption of circadian rhythm may lead to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative states. In this context, we further argue that there is an urgent need of developing new generations of compounds, chronobiotics, to modulate the molecular substrates of circadian timing system. Chronobiotics conceptually offer an effective way for restoration and protection from the c...
Source: Drug Development Research - August 31, 2016 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Ashish Sharma, Rohit Goyal Tags: Research Commentary Source Type: research
Utilization of Diurnal Rodents in the Research of Depression
ABSTRACT
Most neuropsychiatric research, including that related to the circadian system, is performed using nocturnal animals, mainly laboratory mice and rats. Mood disorders are known to be associated with circadian rhythm abnormalities, but the mechanisms by which circadian rhythm disruptions interact with depression remain unclear. As the circadian system of diurnal and nocturnal mammals differs, we previously suggested that the utilization of diurnal animal models may be advantageous for understanding these relations. During the last 10 years, we and others established the validity of several diurnal rodent spec...
Source: Drug Development Research - August 31, 2016 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Carmel Bilu, Haim Einat, Noga Kronfeld ‐Schor Tags: Research Overview Source Type: research
Effects of Intranasal Oxytocin on Long ‐Term Memory in Healthy Humans: A Systematic Review
In conclusion, this review identified a link between long‐term memory performance and exogenous intranasal Oxt in humans, although these results still warrant further confirmation in large, multicenter randomized controlled trials. Drug Dev Res, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Source: Drug Development Research)
Source: Drug Development Research - August 31, 2016 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Michela Brambilla, Rosa Manenti, Giovanni de Girolamo, Mauro Adenzato, Luisella Bocchio ‐Chiavetto, Maria Cotelli Tags: Clinical Research Overview Source Type: research
Epigenetic Mechanisms in Psychiatric Diseases and Epigenetic Therapy
ABSTRACT
Epigenetic mechanisms refer covalent modification of DNA and histone proteins that control transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Epigenetic regulation is involved in the development of the nervous system and plays an important role in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders, including depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Epigenetic drugs, including histone deacetylation and DNA methylation inhibitors have received increased attention for the management of psychiatric diseases. The purpose of this review is to discuss the potential of epigenetic drugs to treat these disorders and to...
Source: Drug Development Research - August 31, 2016 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Seher Karsli ‐Ceppioglu Tags: Research Overview Source Type: research
Instruction to Authors
(Source: Drug Development Research)
Source: Drug Development Research - August 31, 2016 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Instruction to Authors Source Type: research
