Role of Serotonin in Schizophrenia

Neurochemical changes in neurotransmitter systems are the most common factors emphasized in the etiology of schizophrenia. The neurotransmitter systems involved are dopaminergic, serotonergic, glutamatergic and noradrenergic systems. According to dopamine hypothesis, schizophrenia is caused by inbalance in dopamine transmission and metabolisn which resulted in elevated dopaminergic functioning. However, the mechanism of actions of novel atypical antipsychotics support the role of serotonergic system in the etiology of schizophrenia. Serotonin hypothesis in schizophrenia suggests that increased sensitivity in postsynaptic serotonin receptors is responsible from several symptoms of schizophrenia. This sensitivity increase possibly depends on decrease in central serotonergic function. A possible dynamic interaction between these two systems has been proposed.