Neurochemistry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

This article reviews some of the neurochemistry and neurophysiology of three neurotransmitters: dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. These neurotransmitters are selected because they appear to be involved in the regulation of several important behavioral systems that help regulate the interaction of the organism with its external environment, because many of the psychotropic drugs' modes of action may be result from their effects on these neurotransmitter systems, and because the majority of neurochemical studies in child psychiatry have focused on these three neurotransmitters. After the review of the neurotransmitter systems, neurochemical studies in several child psychiatric disorders are reviewed to illustrate possible biochemical/behavioral relationships in child psychiatry.