Contributions of animal models to the study of mood disorders.

ANIMAL models in research; ANIMAL experimentation; AFFECTIVE disorders; PATHOLOGICAL psychology; DISEASES

Mood disorders are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, yet their underlying pathophysiology remains unclear. Animal models serve as a powerful tool for investigating the neurobiological mechanisms underlying psychiatric disorders; however, no animal model developed to date can fully mimic the "corresponding" human psychiatric disorder. In this scenario, the development of different animal models contributes to our understanding of the neurobiology of these disorders and provides the possibility of preclinical pharmacologic screening. The present review seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of traditional and recent animal models, recapitulating different features and the possible pathologic mechanisms of mood disorders emulated by these models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry / Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria is the property of Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)