Major psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression represent complex phenotypes with imprecise diagnostic boundaries. It has been found that these disorders can be characterized by a number of peripheral immune-inflammatory alterations, including, i.e. elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, increased levels of specific and non-specific antibodies or abnormal counts of lymphocyte subpopulations. Although it has been found that major psychiatric disorders share similar dysregulations of immune-inflammatory response, recent studies have also clearly demonstrated that some differences can be indicated. Interestingly, certain immune-inflammatory disturbances appear to be state markers, since they occur in acute relapse and normalize following pharmacological treatment, while the rest represents trait markers that remain stable regardless of treatment. It is also important to note that peripheral immune-inflammatory markers have been associated with psychopathological manifestation of major psychiatric disorders, response to treatment and long-term outcomes. However, it remains unclear what is the origin of peripheral inflammation in psychiatric disorders. To date, several mechanisms have been proposed, including the gut-brain axis dysregulation, infections in the neurodevelopmental period or immunogenetic factors. This eBook summarizes current evidence from studies investigating peripheral inflammation in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression and post-traumatic stress disorder as well as it provides future directions for the field.

With recent studies using genetic, epigenetic, and other molecular and neurochemical approaches, a new era has begun in understanding pathophysiology of suicide. Emerging evidence suggests that neurobiological factors are not only critical in providing potential risk factors but also provide a promising approach to develop more effective treatment and prevention strategies. The Neurobiological Basis of Suicide discusses the most recent findings in suicide neurobiology. Psychological, psychosocial, and cultural factors are important in determining the risk factors for suicide; however, they offer weak prediction and can be of little clinical use. Interestingly, cognitive characteristics are different among depressed suicidal and depressed nonsuicidal subjects, and could be involved in the development of suicidal behavior. The characterization of the neurobiological basis of suicide is in delineating the risk factors associated with suicide. The Neurobiological Basis of Suicide focuses on how and why these neurobiological factors are crucial in the pathogenic mechanisms of suicidal behavior and how these findings can be transformed into potential therapeutic applications.

This ground-breaking book brings together researchers from a wide range of disciplines to discuss the control and coordination of processes involved in perceptually guided actions. The research area of motor control has become an increasingly multidisciplinary undertaking. Understanding the acquisition and performance of voluntary movements in biological and artificial systems requires the integration of knowledge from a variety of disciplines from neurophysiology to biomechanics.

For years lip service has been paid to a belief in a biological basis for schizophrenia, but ,nevertheless psychosocial and psychodynamic "theories" of schizophrenia have been promulgated, and these have detracted from the all important biological work, Eclecticism has ruled the day and has caused considerable confusion, As a result research in schizophrenia has not progressed as fast as it should have done and treatment has been less effective than it could otherwise have been. This book is devoted to a wholly biological approach to the problem of schizophrenia, in the hope that many more workers will enter this exciting field of research. A wide variety of topics is covered, including brain structure; the genetics, pathogenesis and treatment of schizophrenia; a consideration of dietary and immunological factors and finally a chapter on alcoholism as it seems possible that the problems of schizophrenia and addiction are linked. We are grateful to all our contributors and to MTP Press for their enthusiasm for this book. Gwynneth P Hemmings William A Hemmings XI SECTION 1: Structure 1 The brain stem reticular formation K. E. WEBSTER There can be no question that the brain stem reticular lormation no longer exercises the same fascination for neurologists that it did a quarter of a century ago.

Part of the Oxford Psychiatry Library series, this pocketbook provides a user-friendly introduction to the diagnosis, etiology, and treatment of patients with panic disorder.

Inflammation has invaded the field of psychiatry. The finding that cytokines are elevated in various affective and psychotic disorders brings to the forefront the necessity of identifying the precise research domain criteria (RDoCs) that inflammation is responsible for. This task is certainly the most advanced in major depressive disorders. The reason is that a dearth of clinical and preclinical studies has demonstrated that inflammation can cause symptoms of depression and conversely, cytokine antagonists can attenuate symptoms of depression in medical and psychiatric patients with chronic low grade inflammation. Important knowledge has been gained on the symptom dimensions that inflammation is driving and the mechanisms of action of cytokines in the brain, providing new targets for drug research and development. The aim of the book “Inflammation-Associated Depression” is to present this field of research and its implications in a didactic and comprehensive manner to basic and clinical scientists, psychiatrists, physicians, and students at the graduate level.

This book presents a thorough and critical review of current knowledge on the role of immunology in major psychiatric disorders and its potential applications. The opening chapters offer general information on the immune influence of the brain to provide readers with a better understanding of the end of immune privilege. The book then examines possible underlying mechanisms leading to psychiatric disorders, from early infections to pro-inflammatory markers, stress, and immune genetic background, linking etiology and psychiatry. The third section describes each disorder (ie autism, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression...) with an overview of underlying immune dysfunctions. Lastly, the authors discuss the innovative immune-therapies that may result from the discovery of immune system biomarkers and their associated mechanisms. A better understanding of the role of the immune system in psychiatric disorders makes it possible to identify stratification biomarkers, to explain underlying mechanisms, and to develop innovative, efficient, targeted treatment strategies and management. As such, the book is of value to clinicians, mental health professionals, mental health researchers, immunologists, industry practitioners, and various stakeholders in the mental health field.