Animal models and imaging in mood disorders

Abstract

Mood disorders feature prominently in health care costs in our society.  As such, extensive research on therapeutics approaches, both pharmacological, surgical or through external stimulation are being sought with varying success.  In most cases, imaging is being used to help determine therapeutic dosages and investigate mechanism of action or attempt to determine the biological and neurochemical basis of the symptoms.  Although our in vivo imaging capabilities have improved significantly in recent years, the use of debilitated, sometimes incompetent, human subjects remains ethically questionable in many instances.   

Animals can be used to answer many questions, tests and develop many technologies and drug therapies in a meaningful time frame.  In recent years, the combination of various imaging modalities for both small and large animals has pushed research in mood disorders, and mental health as a whole, forward at an accelerated pace. 

In this presentation, I will review some of the use of animals in research in and illustrate some applications of imaging for therapeutics and understanding of the underlying dysfunctions.