Interactions between monoamines, glutamate, and GABA in schizophrenia: new evidence

• Published in: Annual review of pharmacology and toxicology Vol. 41; no. 1; pp. 237 - 260
• Main Authors: Carlsson, A, Waters, N, Holm-Waters, S, Tedroff, J, Nilsson, M, Carlsson, M L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Annual Reviews, Inc 01.01.2001
• Subjects: Animals; Antipsychotic Agents - pharmacology; Antipsychotic Agents - therapeutic use; Antipsychotic Agents/pharmacology/therapeutic use; Biogenic Monoamines - physiology; Brain Chemistry - physiology; Dopamine - physiology; Farmakologi och toxikologi; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - physiology; Glutamic Acid - physiology; Humans; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; monoamines; Pharmacology and Toxicology; Schizophrenia - drug therapy; Schizophrenia - metabolism; Schizophrenia - physiopathology; Schizophrenia/drug therapy/metabolism/physiopathology
• ISSN: 0362-1642; 1545-4304
• DOI: 10.1146/annurev.pharmtox.41.1.237

In spite of its proven heuristic value, the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia is now yielding to a multifactorial view, in which the other monoamines as well as glutamate and GABA are included, with a focus on neurotransmitter interactions in complex neurocircuits. The primary lesion(s) in schizophrenia does not necessarily involve any of these neurotransmitters directly but could deal with a more general defect, such as a faulty connectivity of developmental origin. Nevertheless, a precise identification of neurotransmitter aberrations in schizophrenia will probably provide clues for a better understanding of the disease and for the development of new treatment and prevention strategies.