Potential use of animal models to examine antipsychotic prophylaxis for schizophrenia

• Published in: Clinical neuroscience research 2003-12, Vol.3 (4), p.289-296
• Main Authors: Powell, Susan B., Risbrough, Victoria B., Geyer, Mark A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antipsychotics; Development; Prepulse inhibition; Prodromal; Prophylactic treatment; Rodent; Schizophrenia; Sensorimotor gating
• ISSN: 1566-2772
• DOI: 10.1016/S1566-2772(03)00089-6

There is increasing concern that a prolonged period of untreated psychosis may be associated with increased severity of symptoms and decreased overall quality of life in persons with schizophrenia. Taken together with the extremely debilitating nature of schizophrenia, there is a renewed interest in the early identification and treatment of psychotic disorders, including prodromal symptoms. Because the efficacy, safety, and ethics of early intervention are being examined in the clinical arena, preclinical studies on the therapeutic potential and long-term consequences of prophylactic treatments in animals are warranted in order to inform this debate. Because some forms of schizophrenia appear to be attributable to early developmental perturbations along with genetic risk factors, many animal studies have examined the influences of specific developmental or genetic manipulations on behaviors and neural circuitry relevant to schizophrenia. Based on the timing of insult and manifestation of deficits, these animal models will be particularly useful in assessing the efficacy and safety of potential prophylactic antipsychotic treatments. The following review will: (1) highlight the clinical literature on the need for and the ongoing studies of prophylactic antipsychotic treatment for schizophrenia; (2) illustrate several examples of neurodevelopmental and genetic animal models of schizophrenia; and (3) demonstrate the potential for these preclinical models to be used in the evaluation of prophylactic treatment during ontogeny.