Pharmacopsychiatry 2006; 39: 10-14
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-931483
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

The Neurochemical Circuitry of Schizophrenia

A. Carlsson1
  • 1Department of Pharmacology, University of Göteborg, Sweden
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
01 March 2006 (online)

The aim of this paper is to describe the connectivity of some basic neuronal circuits assumed to be causally related to the generation of symptoms in schizophrenia. The role of various transmitter substances like dopamine, glutamate, serotonin and GABA can be explained by the circuitry of the respective pathways in the brain. Activating and inhibiting loops that are coupled can shift into an imbalance that might result in the generation of positive and negative symptoms.

Finally, the paper draws attention to the hypothesis that extrasynaptic receptors might play an important role in schizophrenia. The paper shows that thinking in loops might be an efficient strategy for obtaining a functional understanding of the neuronal circuitry involved in the complex symptomatology of schizophrenia.

Those models help us to understand the action of antipsychotic medications.

References

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  • 3 Carlsson M, Carlsson A. Interactions between glutamatergic and monoaminergic systems within the basal ganglia - implications for schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease.  Trends Neurosci. 1990;  13 272-276
  • 4 Carlsson M, Carlsson A. Dopaminergic stabilisers.  Adv in Schizophrenia and Clin Psychiatry. 2005;  1(4) 118-128
  • 5 Carlsson A, Waters N, Carlsson M L. Neurotransmitter interactions in schizophrenia - therapeutic implications.  Eur Arch Psychiat Clin Neurosci. 1999;  Suppl 4 37-43
  • 6 Carlsson A, Waters N, Holm-Waters S, Tedroff J, Nilsson M, Carlsson M L. Interactions between monoamines, glutamate, and GABA in schizophrenia: new evidence.  Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol. 2001;  41 237-60
  • 7 Sesack S R. Synaptology of dopamine neurons. In: Di Chiara G (ed) Handbook of Exper Pharmacol Vol 154/I. Springer Berlin; 2002: pp 63-119

Prof. Arvid Carlsson

Thorild Wulffsgatan 50

SE-41319 Göteborg

Sweden

Email: arvid.carlsson@pharm.gu.se