Gene therapy for psychiatric disorders.

Publication Type	Review
Authors	Gelfand Y, Kaplitt M
Journal	World Neurosurg
Volume	80
Issue	3-4
Pagination	S32.e11-8
Date Published	12/23/2012
ISSN	1878-8769
Keywords	Genetic Therapy, Mental Disorders
Abstract	Gene therapy has become of increasing interest in clinical neurosurgery with the completion of numerous clinical trials for Parkinson disease, Alzheimer disease, and pediatric genetic disorders. With improved understanding of the dysfunctional circuitry mediating various psychiatric disorders, deep brain stimulation for refractory psychiatric diseases is being increasingly explored in human patients. These factors are likely to facilitate development of gene therapy for psychiatric diseases. Because delivery of gene therapy agents would require the same surgical techniques currently being employed for deep brain stimulation, neurosurgeons are likely to lead the development of this field, as has occurred in other areas of clinical gene therapy for neurologic disorders. We review the current state of gene therapy for psychiatric disorders and focus specifically on particular areas of promising research that may translate into human trials for depression, drug addiction, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and schizophrenia. Issues that are relatively unique to psychiatric gene therapy are also discussed.
DOI	10.1016/j.wneu.2012.12.028
PubMed ID	23268195