CREB: A Promising Therapeutic Target for Treating Psychiatric Disorders

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Molecular Biology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Psychiatric disorders are complex, multifactorial conditions with increasing morbidity and significant societal costs.
• Current treatments like antidepressants and antipsychotics have limitations, including side effects and high relapse rates, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.
• Cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB) is a key transcription factor involved in neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and neuronal growth, making it a potential therapeutic target.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a 10-year update on the role of CREB-mediated transcriptional signaling in psychiatric disorders.
• To summarize the classification of psychiatric disorders and elucidate CREB's involvement in these conditions.
• To analyze CREB-related signaling pathways in the context of antidepressant and antipsychotic treatments.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of literature over the past decade.
• Analysis of CREB's role in neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and neuronal growth.
• Examination of CREB-related signaling pathways targeted by current psychiatric medications.

Main Results:

• CREB signaling plays a multidimensional role in the pathophysiology of various psychiatric disorders.
• CREB pathways are implicated in the mechanisms of action of antidepressants and antipsychotics.
• CREB signaling demonstrates potential as a therapeutic target for psychiatric conditions, particularly depression.

Conclusions:

• CREB signaling pathways offer a promising avenue for developing novel treatments for psychiatric disorders.
• Targeting CREB could lead to more effective medications with fewer side effects than current options.
• Further research into CREB's role is essential for advancing psychiatric pharmacotherapy.