title: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor: the neurotrophin hypothesis of psychopathology.
abstract: While monoaminergic hypotheses of psychopathology remain popular, there has been growing interest in the role of neurotrophins in neuropsychiatric disorders. Basic laboratory work has documented the importance of neurotrophins in neuronal survival and synaptic plasticity, and a range of clinical studies has provided analogous evidence of their role in neuropathology. Work on gene variants in brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and associated changes in structural and function brain imaging, have further contributed to our understanding of this area. Much remains to be done to delineate fully the relevant mechanisms by which brain-derived neurotrophic factor and other neurotrophins contribute to psychopathology, and to develop targeted therapeutic interventions. Nevertheless, the neurotrophin hypothesis has already given impetus to a range of valuable research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health at the University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Dan J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: Willie M U
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Daniels
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Savitz
authors.forename: Brian H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Harvey
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004358:Drug Therapy; D004777:Environment; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D010641:Phenotype; D011613:Psychotherapy
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors