Aminergic brain system interactions and psychopathology

Some data from basic neuropsychopharmacological studies, behavioral pharmacological research, and clinical investigations are reviewed briefly, and the conclusion is that single-amine theories of complex behaviors or broadly defined psychopathological states are inadequate. The next generation of hypotheses relating amines to behavior must take into account the likelihood that different components of behavior are mediated by different amine systems. Further, it appears likely that many amine systems interact with one another in a regulatory fashion and that the final result-the behavior-may reflect the functions of a system of components rather than those of a particular set of aminergic neurons.