Substance P and affective disorders: new treatment opportunities by neurokinin 1 receptor antagonists?

Abstract

Substance P (SP) is a neuropeptide which is abundant in the periphery and the central nervous system, where it is colocalized with other neurotransmitters such as serotonin or dopamine. SP has been proposed to play a role in the regulation of pain including migraine and fibromyalgia, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, emesis, psoriasis as well as in central nervous system disorders. This review summarizes our current knowledge of the role of SP in the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disorders with special emphasis on affective disorders including bipolar disorders. It also reviews current treatment approaches with neurokinin 1 receptor antagonists which appear to be promising drugs for the future treatment of affective disorders.