Animal models of schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a complex disorder affecting all domains of human life. Di stinction is made between positive (delusions, hallucinations), negative (b lunted affect, avolition, social withdrawal), cognitive (attention, executi ve function, thought disorder) and affective symptoms (anxiety, depression) . The vulnerability-stress model is generally used to describe the evolutio n of the disorder over time and to guide psychosocial and pharmacological t reatment. The biological vulnerability to stress is determined by the inter action of genetic and environmental influences. A neuro-developmental model is used to explain the observed structural and functional abnormalities in the brain of schizophrenic patients. In the past most animal models for schizophrenia have been used to develop new medication and to explain the mode of action of antipsychotic drugs. Ho wever, in recent years more attention has focused on developing models whic h may be more related to the schizophrenic (psycho)pathology. The new gener ation of animal models focus predominantly on mimicking the neurodevelopmen tal hypothesis of schizophrenia, by manipulating rats in a very early stage of life, and studying the long term consequences. These manipulations incl ude early lesions or maternal deprivation.