Animal models of schizophrenia

Abstract

Schizophrenia is a complex disorder affecting all domains of human life. Distinction is made between positive (delusions, hallucinations), negative (blunted affect, avolition, social withdrawal), cognitive (attention, executive function, thought disorder) and affective symptoms (anxiety, depression). The vulnerability-stress model is generally used to describe the evolution of the disorder over time and to guide psychosocial and pharmacological treatment. The biological vulnerability to stress is determined by the interaction of genetic and environmental influences. A neuro-developmental model is used to explain the observed structural and functional abnormalities in the brain of schizophrenic patients. In the past most animal models for schizophrenia have been used to develop new medication and to explain the mode of action of antipsychotic drugs. However, in recent years more attention has focused on developing models which may be more related to the schizophrenic (psycho)pathology. The new generation of animal models focus predominantly on mimicking the neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia, by manipulating rats in a very early stage of life, and studying the long term consequences. These manipulations include early lesions or maternal deprivation.