Non-pharmacological and pharmacological approaches for psychiatric disorders: Re-appraisal and insights from zebrafish models

• Published in: Pharmacology, biochemistry and behavior Vol. 193; p. 172928
• Main Authors: de Abreu, Murilo S., Giacomini, Ana C.V.V., Genario, Rafael, Rech, Nathália, Carboni, Júlia, Lakstygal, Anton M., Amstislavskaya, Tamara G., Demin, Konstantin A., Leonard, Brian E., Vlok, Marli, Harvey, Brian H., Piato, Angelo, Barcellos, Leonardo J.G., Kalueff, Allan V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.06.2020
• Subjects: Acute and chronic stress; Animal model; Animals; Anti-Anxiety Agents - therapeutic use; Antidepressive Agents - therapeutic use; Behavior, Animal - drug effects; Complementary Therapies - methods; Disease Models, Animal; Environmental enrichment; Female; Humans; Male; Mental Disorders - drug therapy; Mental Disorders - etiology; Mental illness; Psychopharmacotherapy; Rodentia; Stress, Psychological - complications; Treatment Outcome; Zebrafish; Animal model; Acute and chronic stress; Mental illness; Psychopharmacotherapy; Environmental enrichment
• ISSN: 0091-3057; 1873-5177
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2020.172928

Acute and chronic stressors are common triggers of human mental illnesses. Experimental animal models and their cross-species translation to humans are critical for understanding of the pathogenesis of stress-related psychiatric disorders. Mounting evidence suggests that both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches can be efficient in treating these disorders. Here, we analyze human, rodent and zebrafish (Danio rerio) data to compare the impact of non-pharmacological and pharmacological therapies of stress-related psychopathologies. Emphasizing the likely synergism and interplay between pharmacological and environmental factors in mitigating daily stress both clinically and in experimental models, we argue that environmental enrichment emerges as a promising complementary therapy for stress-induced disorders across taxa. We also call for a broader use of novel model organisms, such as zebrafish, to study such treatments and their potential interplay.