Treatment of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Targeting Neurobiological Mechanisms

This cutting-edge book brings advances in genetics, neurobiology, and psychopharmacology to the clinic to enhance treatment for neurodevelopmental disorders. Significant progress has been made in identifying the neurobiological mechanisms of several disorders and targeted treatments are modifying the outcome of these disorders. However, the ability to utilize this knowledge has not been summarized in one place for the practicing clinician. This book will fill that gap by providing the theoretical underpinnings and the latest advances in targeted treatments. Several neurodevelopmental disorders are reviewed in detail including clinical features and behavioral phenotypes, standard treatments and new targeted treatments based on the latest advances in neurobiology and the animal model studies that have led to new treatments. The disorders covered include psychiatric disorders: schizophrenia, depression, autism and ADHD; single gene disorders including Tuberous Sclerosis, Fragile X Syndrome and fragile X- associated disorders, Angelman Syndrome, PKU, and Muscular Dystrophies; and complex genetic disorders such as Down syndrome. This book also highlights the commonalities across disorders and new genetic and molecular concepts in an easy to read format. This is a very exciting time for new targeted treatments and this volume is a landmark treatise on this new age of treatment.

Dr. Randi Hagerman is an expert in the treatment in neurodevelopmental disorders with expertise in targeted treatments that reverse the neurobiological abnormalities associated with a specific disorder. This new age of targeted treatments has led to new interventions which are changing the trajectories of development for many of these children. Dr. Robert Hendren is a psychiatrist who focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders including autism. His research has spanned a variety of illnesses, from autism, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder to eating and impulse control disorders. In 2001 he became diretor of the MIND Institute at the University of California, Davis. where he developed a strong clinical trials program that has tested many new treatments for autism. Since 2009 as director of child and adolescent psychiatry at UCSF.