Noradrenergic Pathology in Psychiatric Disorders: Postmortem Studies

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn this paper, we review research utilizing postmortem brain tissue in order to investigate the potential neuropathology of the noradrenergic system in psychiatri disorders. The postmortem tissue approach to the study of the noradrenergic system has been used primarily in investigations of the biology of suicide and depression. Findings from postmortem studies provide data generally consisten with the hypothesis that a norepinephrine deficiency exist depression, and possibly in the victims of suicide. However postmortem studies do not presently provide irrefutable evidence of noradrenergic neuropathology. Technical shortcomings, issues of reproducibility, and the strengths postmortem research are reviewed. More rigorously performed postmortem research is needed to aid researchers in pinpointing specific neuropathologies associated with psychiatric disease.