Epigenetics in Psychiatry

Epigenetics in Psychiatry 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.

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.

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

1. Introduction 2. Outline of Epigenetics 3. History of Epigenetics in Psychiatry 4. Role of Epigenetics in the Neural Stem Cell and Neuron 5. Role of Epigenetics in the Brain 6. Epigenetic Epidemiology of Psychiatric Disorders 7. Laboratory Techniques in Psychiatric Epigenetics 8. Laboratory Models in Psychiatric Epigenetics 9. DNA Methylation and Histone Changes in Schizophrenia 10. Non-Coding RNAs and Major Psychosis 11. Epigenetics and Bipolar Disorder 12. Epigenetics and Major Depressive Disorder 13. Epigenetics and Suicide 14. Epigenetics of Anxiety Disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder 15. Epigenetics and Cognitive Disorders 16. Epigenetics and Mental Retardation 17. Epigenetics of Pervasive Developmental Disorders and ADHD 18. Epigenetics and Drug Addiction 19. Epigenetic Effects of Currently-Used Psychotropic Drugs 20. Drugs Affecting DNA Methylation in Psychiatric Disorders 21. Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors and Psychiatric Disorders 22. The Social Environment and Epigenetics in Psychiatry 23. Nutritional Influences on Epigenetics in Psychiatry 24. Transgenerational Epigenetics and Psychiatric Disorders