Astrocytes in Psychiatric Disorders

This contributed volume discusses the multiple roles of astrocytes, which determine the progression and outcome of neuropsychiatric diseases. This emerging area of study examines the ways in which astrocytes are involved in various aspects of disease initiation, progression and resolution. This monograph aims to integrate the body of information that has accumulated in recent years revealing the active role of astrocytes in neuropsychiatric pathology and in psychiatric disorders.  Understanding roles of astrocytes in pathology will provide new targets for medical intervention and aid the development of much needed therapeutics. This book will be valuable for researchers and workers in the fields of neurobiology, neurology, and psychiatry, as well as fill the need for a textbook used in advanced courses/graduate seminars in glial pathophysiology.

Introduction: Neuroglia in psychiatric disorders

A. Verkhratsky, V. Parpura, B. Li & C. Scuderi

Part 1. General aspects of astrogliopathology with emphasis on neurocognitive disorders

Chapter 1. Astrocytes: The housekeepers and guardians of the CNS

A. Verkhratsky, V. Parpura, B. Li & C. Scuderi

Chapter 2. Principles of astrogliopathology

A. Verkhratsky, V. Parpura, B. Li & C. Scuderi

Chapter 3. Morphological appearance of astroglia in neuropsychiatric disorders

G. Rajkowska

Chapter 4. Astrocytes and neurotransmission: Glutamate and GABA in cognitive and mood disorders

Gerard Sanacora

Part 2. Astroglia in mood disorders

Chapter 5. Astroglia in bipolar disorder

A. M. Butt & A.D. Rivera

Chapter 6. Astroglia abnormalities in mood disorders

M.B. Cohen

Chapter 7. Astroglia in major depression and suicide

N. Mechawar

Part 3. Astroglia in Schizophrenia

Chapter 8. Neuroglia in Schizophrenia

S. Goldman & M.Nedergaard

Chapter 9. Glutamate turnover in Schizophrenia

R. McCullumsmith

Chapter 10. Astroglia and dopanime transmission in Schizophrenia

M. Pletnikov  

Chapter 11. Kynurenic acid in Schyzophrenia

R. Schwarcz

Part 4. Astroglia in addictive disorders

Chapter 12. Astrocytes in addictive disorders

Peter Kalivas

Chapter 13. Astroglia in the vulnerability and maintenance of alcohol dependence

J. J. Miguel-Hidalgo

Part 5. Astroglia in anxiety and eating disorders

Chapter 14. Astroglia in response to stress

F.R. Walker

Chapter 15. Astroglia and Obsessive compulsive disorder

Kohichi Tanaka

Chapter 16. Astrocytes in regulation of food intake

Christina Garcia-Caceres  / Y. Yang / T.L. Horvath H.

Chapter 17. Astrocytes in anorexia nervosa

J. Seitz

Part 6. Targeting astrocytes in therapeutic managemenet of neuropsychiatrioc disorders

Chapter 18. Astroglial serotonin receptors as the central target of classic antidepressants

Baoman Li & A. Verkhratsky

Chapter 19. Lithium targets astrocytes

Arthur Butt

 Epilogue

A. Verkhratsky, V. Parpura, B. Li & C. Scuderi

Vladimir Parpura is a Professor in the Department of Neurobiology at The University of Alabama in Birmingham, Alabama. 

Alexei Verkhratsky is a Professor of Neurophysiology in the Faculty of Life Sciences at The University of Manchester in Manchester, United Kingdom. 

Caterina Scuderi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at Sapienza University of Rome. 

Baoman Li is a  Professor at the Laboratory Teaching Center at the School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University in Shenyang, China.