Pharmacological Therapies for Stress-Related Disorders and Autism Spectrum Disorder
A special issue of Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247). This special issue belongs to the section "Pharmacology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 February 2025 | Viewed by 6452
Special Issue Editors
Interests: stress-related disorders; PTSD; neuropeptides; RFamide peptides; antidepressants; ASD
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
In this Special Issue, we aim to present well-known and new therapeutic agents and strategies for the treatment of stress-related disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders (also including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as anxiety disorders are the most common comorbid conditions in these patients).
Several types of anxieties can be associated with ASD. ASD and anxiety greatly overlap; however, the reason for this overlap is unclear. Genetic studies reveal that ASD overlaps with other psychiatric illnesses. Research indicates that the neurobiological interactions between anxiety and ASD require comprehensive assessment approaches, modified cognitive behavioral therapy and carefully managed pharmacological interventions.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are the first choice as pharmacological treatment of anxiety disorder in the general population. Depression disorder is a common heterogeneous mental disease that affects all aspects of patients’ lives, as well as people around them. Nowadays, ADs are divided into five classes: SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, MAOIs and atypical ADs with unique mechanisms of action. The development of new drugs and methods for depression treatment is critical. Nowadays, the therapy of anxiety in ASD includes cognitive-behavioral therapy and psychopharmacological treatment.
In this Special Issue, we want to expand the knowledge on antidepressant drugs and their mechanism of action. Pharmacological interventions show promise for typically developing populations, but further research is needed to establish the efficacy of medications for individuals. Because comorbid ASD/anxiety remains a nascent and developing area of study, practitioners are encouraged to publish the latest scientific findings.
The gut-brain axis plays a significant role in the development of behavioral disorders and neurological diseases. Changes in the microbial flora can also be observed in the case of certain neuropsychiatric diseases, such as ASD, schizophrenia, depression, and Parkinson's disease. The conditions characteristic of each disease can be induced by fecal transplantation from a patient in a germ-free model animal experiment. During the treatment of the microbial flora with pro- or pre-biotics, behavioral changes similar to the control can be induced. All this suggests that the modification of the microbial flora can play a significant role in the development of ASD and in its possible treatment later on.
Dr. Anita Kovács
Dr. Attila Tóth
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- new targets and therapies for stress-related disorders
- molecular mechanism of drugs
- ASD, PTSD, MDD
- antidepressant
- depression
- animal model for depression
- ASD
- microbiome
- gut-brain axis
- brain electrophysiology
- neuron activity in ASD
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