- Genetic Research in Psychiatry is leading to the discovery of several genes associated with serious psychiatric illnesses. This will provide clues to the molecular pathophysiology of major mental disorders leading to specific, biotechnology-driven disease modifying drugs.
- Newer novel brain stimulation therapies like Trancranial Magnetic Stimulation and Vagal Nerve Stimulation have already been approved by the USFDA. Research in Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) in promising to be the next ‘big thing’ in treatment of psychiatric disorders.
- Pharmocogenetic screening of psychiatric patients is already being used, and likely to become routine, to enable psychiatrists to customize drug treatment for efficacy and tolerability.
- Structural atrophy of brain regions has been demonstrated in serious psychiatric illnesses. Therapeutic agents aimed at reversing this e.g. by stopping apoptosis, by stimulating neurogensis or through glia-proliferationn are being developed.
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