Animal models for schizophrenia

Over the years a variety of animal models for schizophrenia have been devel oped. Initially, these models were predominantly pharmacological in nature, based on the effects of drugs used in the treatment of the disease. With i ncreasing knowledge of the disturbances in the schizophrenic brain, and bet ter methodologies to perform research in both patients and animals, animal models with face, predictive and construct validity have been set up. The p resent paper reviews a number of animal models that have been and still are used to uncover the mechanisms underlying the psychopathological processes leading to schizophrenia.