Recent studies regarding the neuropathology of specific neurological disorders suggest that both neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative processes may play a role. However, in contrast to the neurodegeneration seen in neurological disorders such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, the term "neuroprogression" has been used to describe the neurodevelopmental aspect of pathological brain re-wiring that takes place in the context of severe psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Within psychiatry, patients with severe psychopathology, such as those depressed patients who eventually commit suicide, have been shown to present with increased inflammatory markers in the brain. A similar increase in inflammatory markers is also found in patients with bipolar disorders and schizophrenia. Thus, oxidative stress, inflammation, and changes in growth factors are thought to be the pathways of neuroprogression.

Neuroprogression in Psychiatry provides a comprehensive summary of the current developments in the emerging field of neuroprogression. With contributions by leading researchers in the field, this book examines the role of neuroprogression across a wide range of specific psychiatric disorders, with chapters included on major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.

Flavio Kapczinski's profile page

Michael Berk's profile page

Pedro Vieira da Silva Magalhães' profile page

Flávio Kapczinski is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, and the Director of the Graduate Program in Neuroscience at McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.

Michael Berk is the Alfred Deakin Chair of Psychiatry in the School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia. He is also the NHMRC Senior Principal Research Fellow in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia, as well as an Honorary Professorial Research Fellow at the Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health and Orygen Youth Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.

Pedro Vieira da Silva Magalhães is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, and a Professor for the Postgraduate Program in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.