NMDA Agonists and Antagonists as Probes of Glutamatergic Dysfunction and Pharmacotherapies in Neuropsychiatric Disorders

• DOI: 10.3109/hrp.7.3.125
• Publication Date: 2010-04-09T14:10:48Z
• Authors: John H. Krystal; Cyril D. D'Souza; Ismene L. Petrakis; Aysenil Belger; Robert M. Berman; Dennis S. Charney; Walid Abi-Saab; Steven Madonick
• Keywords: Brain Diseases; Mental Disorders; Pain; Syndrome; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; United States; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Human Experimentation; Receptors, Glycine; 0302 clinical medicine; Chronic Disease; Humans; Ethics, Medical

Antagonists of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) subclass glutamate receptors and agonists glycine-B coagonist site these have been important tools for characterizing contributions NMDA receptor pathophysiology to a large number neuropsychiatric conditions treating conditions. Among disorders are Alzheimer's disease, chronic pain syndromes, epilepsy, schizophrenia, Parkinson's Huntington's addiction disorders, major depression, anxiety disorders. This review will examine pathophysiological therapeutic hypotheses generated or supported by clinical studies employing antagonists partial agonists. It also consider ethical issues related human psychopharmacological glutamatergic probes.