title: Neuroactive steroids in schizophrenia.
abstract: Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder with a complicated pathophysiology, involving many biochemical abnormalities in the brain. Because neuroactive steroids (NASs) modulate neurotransmitter systems that are implicated in the pathology of schizophrenia, recent research has focused on examining the role that NASs play in the illness. Although research in this area is relatively new, it appears that NASs may potentially be implicated in the pathophysiology of the illness. This paper reviews the current understanding of NASs, the research literature on NASs in schizophrenia and in animal models of the illness (including the effects of antipsychotic medication on NASs) and on the potential antipsychotic role of NASs themselves and, finally, discusses future directions for this area of schizophrenia research.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Neuroscience, University of Alberta, Edmonton.
authors.forename: Yanina
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shulman
authors.forename: Philip G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Tibbo
mesh_terms: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000502:physiology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013256:Steroids / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D013256:Steroids; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D016202:N-Methylaspartate