EPIGENETICS IN PSYCHIATRY. PRINT ON DEMAND

Epigenetics - the study of heritable changes in gene expression not involving changes in DNA sequence - is now understood to play a key role in unravelling the deep mysteries of psychiatric pathogenesis. Compared to the fixity of our genetic blueprint, epigenetics in an inherently environmentally mutable concept - and quite reversible. The elucidation of basic principles of epigenetic biology points to the creation of more optimal and effective therapies for major classes of psychiatric disease.
In this regard, epigenetic therapy, the use of drugs to correct epigenetic defects, may help in the pharmacotherapy of patients with these disorders. With time, such advances may eventually point to replacements for psychotropic drugs presently of symptomatic value and low efficacy. Moreover, there is evidence to suggest that other forms of treatment commonly used in the management of psychiatric disorders, like psychotherapy and electroconvulsive therapy, may also act by epigenetic mechanisms.
This book comprehensively covers all major areas of psychiatry in which extensive epigenetic research has been performed, fully encompassing a diverse and maturing field including drug addiction, bipolar disorder, epidemiology, cognitive disorders and the uses of putative epigenetic-based psychotropic drugs. Uniquely, each chapter correlates epigenetics with relevant advances across genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics. The book acts as a catalyst for further research in this potentially very important and useful area of psychiatry.

Features:
- Chapters review fascinating new areas of research across neuronal stem cells, cognitive disorders, and transgenerational epigenetics through drug addiction
- Relates broad advances in psychiatric epigenetics to a modern understanding of the genome, transcriptome, and protein
- Catalyzes knowledge discovery in both basic epigenetic biology and clinical application as epigenetic targets for drug discovery

Authors
- Jacob Peedicayil, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India.
- Dennis R. Grayson, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA.
- Dimitri Avramopoulos, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.