ANIMAL-MODELS IN PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND PSYC HOPHARMACOLOGY - FROM THE EXPERIMENTAL-ANALYSIS OF BEHAVIOR TO NEUROGENETICS

The contributions of different scientific disciplines to the progress of the animal models, as well as the need of such models for the devel opment of those areas, are considered in the first part of the present work. Criteria for validating animal models of human (normal and abno rmal) behavior, such as predictive, face, construct and convergent val idities, in addition to a new suggested criterion concerning the consi stency/reliability in the use of the models and interpretation of the data, are discussed. In considering the progress of animal models, dif ferent examples regarding the development of certain analogues of anxi ety, stress and learning are presented. Finally, the most used models for the main psychopatological categories are summarized in a table, a nd some psychogenetic, pharmacogenetic and neurogenetic models are com mented.