title: Imbalance of neuronal excitability as a cause of psychic disorder.
abstract: Electrical activity of neurons is characterized by an equilibrium between excitation and inhibition, maintained by negative feedback mechanisms at the cellular, synaptic and neurohumoral level. A central mechanism is the interaction between excitatory calcium currents and inhibitory potassium currents, linked by intracellular calcium concentration. These conductances are located in the somato-dendritic part of the neuron and fundamentally influence spontaneous activity and the processing of synaptic input. The electrical equilibrium is altered by different neuromodulators, such as biogenic amines, peptides, and steroids and by several drugs. Neuromodulatory desequilibration towards increased excitability may occur task-related in a transient way or in a cascade of desequilibrating and partially compensating mechanisms, producing distinct grades of functional impairment. Pharmacotherapeutic principles interfere with this process. It is postulated, that the imbalance between excitation and inhibition is a central factor in the origin of psychic disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Mainz, FRG.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Aldenhoff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*