Title:Oxidative Stress is a New Avenue for Treatment of Neuropsychiatric Disorders: Hype of Hope?
Volume: 24
Issue: 12
Author(s): Sajad Sahab Negah and Fatemeh Forouzanfar*
Affiliation:
- Neuroscience Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Department of
Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Keywords:
Oxidative stress, psychiatric disorders, central nervous system, depression, anxiety disorders, abnormal CNS function.
Abstract: The biochemical integrity of the brain is critical in maintaining normal central
nervous system (CNS) functions. One of the factors that plays an important role in
causing biochemical impairment of the brain is known as oxidative stress. Oxidative
stress is generally defined as the excessive formation of free radicals relative to
antioxidant defenses. The brain is particularly susceptible to oxidative stress because of
its high oxygen consumption and lipid-rich content. Therefore, oxidative stress damage
is associated with abnormal CNS function. Psychiatric disorders are debilitating
diseases. The underlying pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders is poorly defined and
may involve the interplay of numerous clinical factors and mechanistic mechanisms.
Considerable evidence suggests that oxidative stress plays a complex role in several
neuropsychiatric disorders, including anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, obsessivecompulsive
disorder, panic disorder, and schizophrenia. To address these issues, we
reviewed the literature and considered the role of oxidative stress as one of the first
pathological changes in the course of neuropsychiatric disorders, which should receive
more attention in future research.
