This book reviews the relationship between cytokines, glia, and neurons in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders and examines the mechanisms of action of the drugs used for the treatment of these disorders. Increasing evidence has suggested that glia perform important roles in various brain functions, but much remains to be learned aboutthese crucial cells and their interplay with neurons. In addition, a better understanding of the interaction between inflammatory mediators, such as cytokines,and the activated immune response will be of critical importance for the development of...

This volume explores the latest techniques used to study brain function and pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD), and includes suggestions of new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of MDD. The chapters into this book are organized into five parts. Part One discusses advanced approaches to studying well-established pathophysiological mechanisms. Part Two details behavioral research methods for MDD. Part Three looks at the cellular and molecular research methods for major depression, and Part Four describes the latest developments in non-invasive neuroimaging. Part Five...