Neuroprogression in Psychiatry

Recent studies regarding the neuropathology of specific neurological disorders suggest that both neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative processes may play a role. However in contrast to the neurodegeneration seen in neurological disorders such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease the term neuroprogression has been used to describe the neurodevelopmental aspect of pathological brain re-wiring that takes place in the context of severe psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Within psychiatry patients with severe psychopathology such as those depressed patients who eventually commit suicide have been shown to present with increased inflammatory markers in the brain. A similar increase in inflammatory markers is also found in patients with bipolar disorders and schizophrenia. Thus oxidative stress inflammation and changes in growth factors are thought to be the pathways of neuroprogression. <p/><em>Neuroprogression in Psychiatry</em> provides a comprehensive summary of the current developments in the emerging field of neuroprogression. With contributions by leading researchers in the field this book examines the role of neuroprogression across a wide range of specific psychiatric disorders with chapters included on major depressive disorder anxiety disorder post-traumatic stress disorder substance abuse schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.<br>