Neurotransmitter aberrations in schizophrenia: new perspectives and therapeutic implications

Abstract

The dopamine hypothesis has dominated schizophrenia research for decades but is now yielding to a more diversified view, where the interaction of several neurotransmitters in complex circuitries is under scrutiny. Especially, glutamatergic and serotonergic mechanisms are attracting attention. However, the role of dopamine also needs further exploration and may still turn out to have novel therapeutic applications. In the present minireview an attempt is made to integrate preclinical and clinical data on neurotransmitter aberrations in schizophrenia and to discuss their therapeutic implications.