Functional genomics in neuropsychiatric disorders and in neuropharmacology

The rapidly accumulating amount of information concerning gene and protein expression patterns produced by functional genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics is presently providing new targets for drug development. Furthermore, the analysis of gene expression in cells and tissues affected by a disease may reveal the underlying metabolic pathways and cellular processes affected. Finally, changes in gene expression may be used in either diagnostics or the monitoring of drug responses. This review focuses on advances in the use of functional genomics in neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases and neuropsychopharmacology. Although the number of published studies in this field is still limited, it already appears that this strategy may become a fruitful means in the analysis of the aetiology of neuropsychiatric disorders and the search for novel neuropharmacological drugs.