title: Basic neuroscience: critical issues for understanding psychiatric disorders.
abstract: Recent scientific advances in understanding the function and plasticity of the central nervous system have opened fundamental insights into the pathophysiology of various mental disorders. This chapter reviews the basic physiology of the central nervous system, and further focuses on the applications of the new knowledge to clinical psychiatry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Steingard
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Coyle
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D007473:Ion Channels; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents