Dopamine and Glutamate in Psychiatric Disorders by Werner J. Schmidt (Editor), Maarten E. A. Reith (Editor)

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Synopsis

Fostering interactions between psychiatry and neurobiology, researchers in both fields and in pharmacology consider psychiatric diseases primarily as synaptic or extra-synaptic diseases, taking into account changes in dopamine and glutamate neurotransmission that can occur by communications through synaptic connections between neurons, as well as by longer-range actions through the extracellular space. They include both basic and clinical approaches as they discuss dopamine, glutamate, schizophrenia, depression, stress and aggression, anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, addiction, neurodegeneration, Parkinson's and Huntington's Diseases, and dementias. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:William Miles, MD (Rush University Medical Center)
Description:This book summarizes our current understanding of the interactive roles of dopamine and glutamate in psychiatric disease.
Purpose:The purpose is to review the scientific community's current understanding of dopamine and glutamate, and the role these neurotransmitter systems play in psychiatric disease. These are certainly worthwhile objectives, especially since dopamine has been implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia for decades. The book meets the authors' objectives.
Audience:The book is targeted to basic scientists working "at the bench" on dopamine and glutamate transmission, clinicians treating psychiatric disease, and graduate students in related fields. It is probably too technical for medical students and junior residents.
Features:The book begins with a scientific, highly technical review of dopamine and glutamate systems; these first two chapters offer the best summary of these neurotransmitters I have ever read. The book then goes on to explore the roles these two neurotransmitters play in a variety of psychiatric disease, including mood disorders, schizophrenia, ADHD, and addiction. Neurological diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and dementias are also discussed. Illustrations are limited to such things as chemical structures and amino acid sequences. Each chapter is followed by an exhaustive reference list. A thorough index is found at the back.
Assessment:Although probably too technical for the average clinician in private practice, this book offers an excellent reviewof our understanding of how dopamine and glutamate influence the pathophysiology of psychiatric disease. The amount of detail is quite impressive, and would provide an important source of reference when up-to-date information on these neurotransmitter systems is needed. Overall, this is an impressive effort, and every psychiatrist (and neurologist) should have this book in their reference library.