Pharmaceutical Strategy for Mood Disorders
A special issue of Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247). This special issue belongs to the section "Pharmacology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 22 September 2025 | Viewed by 974
Special Issue Editors
2. Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Interests: psychiatry; mood disorders; bipolar disorders; childhood trauma; neuroimaging
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Mood disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD), are leading causes of disability worldwide, significantly affecting quality of life and health outcomes. Despite advances in psychopharmacology, challenges persist due to limited efficacy, delayed therapeutic response, and adverse effects. Additionally, special populations—such as women in the peripartum period, adolescents, elderly patients, and individuals with medical comorbidities—require tailored pharmacological strategies to ensure both safety and effectiveness.
Traditional treatments rely on mood stabilizers and atypical antipsychotics, but recent research has expanded therapeutic options. Novel agents targeting glutamatergic pathways (e.g., ketamine and esketamine), neurosteroids, and inflammation-related mechanisms are gaining prominence. Precision medicine approaches, including pharmacogenetics and biomarker-driven strategies, hold promise for optimizing drug selection, minimizing adverse effects, and enhancing treatment outcomes.
This Special Issue will explore key aspects of pharmaceutical strategies for mood disorders, including:
- Novel pharmacological targets and mechanisms;
- Personalized pharmacotherapy in special populations;
- Inflammation and neuroimmune interactions;
- Gut–brain axis and microbiome-based interventions;
- Polypharmacy and augmentation strategies;
- Pharmacogenetic and biomarker-driven treatment approaches;
- Clinical factors that optimize treatment response (e.g., adherence, metabolism, and lifestyle);
- Psychopathological dimensions associated with treatment beyond symptom reduction, including cognition and quality of life.
By integrating cutting-edge research, this Special Issue aims to advance pharmaceutical strategies for mood disorders, promoting more effective, individualized, and tolerable treatment approaches across diverse patient populations.
Dr. Delfina Janiri
Dr. Alexia Koukopoulos
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- mood disorders
- pharmacotherapy
- pharmacological targets
- gut–brain axis
- microbiome-based interventions
- biomarker-driven treatment optimize treatment response
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