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Reviews the future of mood-disorder research, covering identification of new therapeutic targets, preclinical models, and medicinal chemistry opportunities, and increasing understanding of genetic influences. Essential reading for everyone involved in psychopharmacology development, and mental health clinicians seeking a preview of discoveries soon to influence their practice.
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As the World Health Organization estimates that depression will become the second leading cause of death by the year 2020 – due primarily to complications arising from stress and the cardiovascular system – the need to develop novel and more effective treatment strategies for patients suffering with mood disorders has never been more paramount. Current treatment options for depressed patients include a variety of molecules designed to exclusively elevate central nervous system levels of monoamines such as serotonin (5-HT). These classes include the monoamine oxidase inhibitors and tricyclics and are exemplified by the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and the dual serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). While these medicines are moderately effective in some patient populations, there are still considerable limitations associated with all commercially available antidepressants. These drawbacks include, but are not limited to, delayed onset of efficacy, treatment resistance in many patients, and deleterious side effects such as emesis and sexual dysfunction. The focus of this book is to review the current landscape and state of the field for depression research with an eye towards shedding light on where the future of mood disorders research is headed in terms of novel therapeutic targets, preclinical model development, exploring depression endophenotypes, and medicinal chemistry strategies. Undoubtedly all of these disciplines, as well as others including genetics and translational medicine approaches, will need to successfully collaborate to help build a better understanding of disease etiology, patient stratification, and treatment. As depression research has evolved over the past 50 years, the next decade will be instrumental in facilitating a move beyond our current understanding and pharmacological treatment options, and strive to discover and develop more personalized and effective treatment options for the millions of patients suffering from chronic and debilitating mood disorders.
Chad E. Beyer, PhD, MBAChapter 1 |
Chapter 5 |
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Current depression landscape: a state of the field today | Defining depression endophenotypes |
Chapter 2 |
Chapter 6 |
Novel therapeutic targets for treating affective disorders | Genetic and genomic studies of major depressive disorder |
Chapter 3 |
Chapter 7 |
Developing novel animal models of depression | Medicinal chemistry challenges in the design of next generation antidepressants |
Chapter 4 |
Chapter 8 |
Translational research in mood disorders: using imaging technologies in biomarker research | Application of pharmacogenomics and personalized medicine for the care of depression |
Chapter 4 Translational research in mood disorders: using imaging technologies in biomarker research
Dramatic scientific and technological advances in the field of drug discovery have been made over the past decade, without a corresponding improvement in the success rate of compounds in clinical development. In response, translational research was developed as a research discipline with the aim of improving the correspondence between preclinical and clinical success of therapeutic treatments by identifying novel disease biomarkers, drug targets, and mechanisms of action for compounds of interest. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) have been widely used to reveal the neurobiological underpinnings of human cognition and emotion. The knowledge gained from such studies is currently being employed in the clinical setting to better diagnose and develop treatments for mood disorders. Many of the imaging techniques established in humans are now feasible in animal models (rodents and non-human primates), allowing closer alignment of imaging biomarkers across species and improved congruency between the laboratory and clinical setting. In this review, we explore the use of neuroimaging biomarkers as a translational technique to pave the way to improved clinical success through greater psychiatric disease understanding.