[Involvement of central neurotransmission systems in schizophrenia]

Psychiatric disorders have a high prevalence in all countries and cultures and have a high cost in socio-economic terms. The participation of dopaminergic neurotransmission in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia is well known. However, until recently, the nature of dopaminergic dysfunctions had not been elucidated. Several recent lines of evidence show that (i) the phasic dopaminerginergic neurotransmission (as opposed to the tonic) is altered in schizophrenia and (ii) such dysfunction does not participate in the aetiology of the disease, but is rather the consequence of other dysfunctions. Although the role of serotonergic neurotransmission in mood disorders is well known, its involvement in schizophrenia is not well documented and is supported only by indirect evidence. Finally, the role of glutamatergic neurotransmission in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, previously hindered by the lack of selective tools, has been supported by recent studies, but needs to be confirmed by further works before definite conclusions can be reached.