Psychiatria pre prax 3/2012

New advancements in biological psychiatry

In the genetics of mental disorders, the main eort of the scientists is recently aimed at genome-wide association studies and the detection of DNA microdeletions/microduplications. They seem to be important as one of the substantial parts of the genetic background of schizophrenia. Brain neuroimaging seeks to define biomarkers, useful in the diagnostics and treatment of mental disorders. Based on the new knowledge, modern treatments in dementia in Alzheimer´s disease are developed, e.g. anti-amyloid therapy or modulators of mitochondrial metabolism. Catatonia is still looking for its proper place in the new concepts of classication of mental disorders. Individual subtypes of catatonia are probably dierent from each other in etiopathogenesis and treatment. In the area of pharmacotherapy, several guidelines were recently published by the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry. New brain stimulation techniques may be ecient in the treatment of depression and schizophrenia.

Keywords: genetics, brain imaging, dementia, catatonia, pharmacotherapy, brain stimulation techniques.