This book reviews the relationship between cytokines, glia, and neurons in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders and examines the mechanisms of action of the drugs used for the treatment of these disorders. Increasing evidence has suggested that glia perform important roles in various brain functions, but much remains to be learned about these crucial cells and their interplay with neurons. In addition, a better understanding of the interaction between inflammatory mediators, such as cytokines, and the activated immune response will be of critical importance for the development of new therapeutic strategies. These key areas are the focus of this book, which documents the latest research findings in the field. Evidence is provided for the role of inflammation-induced toxic metabolites from the tryptophan pathway in a wide range of neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's disease. In presenting state of the art knowledge on the interactions between cytokines, glia, and neurons, the book will help to pave the way for the development of novel targets for the prevention and treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.
Yong-Ku Kim, MD, PhD is a Professor of Psychiatry at College of Medicine, Korea University. He received a MD degree from College of Medicine, Korea University in 1987 and a PHD in psychiatry from Korea University in 1998. Dr. Kim has been affiliated with Korea University since 1998, first as an assistant professor (1998-2000), then as associated professor (2001-2005), professor (2006- present). For the past 20 years, his professional activities have extended beyond the area of pure clinical or research work. Dr. Kim has well over 200 publications in peer-reviewed international journals, including Biological Psychiatry, Molecular Psychiatry, Clinical Journal of Psychiatry, and Progress in Neuropsychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry and 30 publications of book chapters and have made over 90 academic presentations in my area of interest. Dr. Kim is a fellow of Collogicum Internationale Neuropsychopharmacologicum, International Society for Affective Disorders, World Federation of theSociety of biological Psychiatry. He currently sits on the editorial boards of some leading academic journals in the field of neurobiology, including Progress in Neuropsychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, Psychiatry Investigation, World Journal Psychiatry, Annals of Depression and Anxiety, Psychiatry Journal and so on. Dr. Kim received prestigious awards such as Astrageneca Award and Dr. Paul Janssen Schizophrenia Research Award. Dr. Kim is currently the president of Korean society of Biological Psychiatry (2016-present).
