Emotional and neuropsychiatric disorders, such as depression and anxiety, are increasingly recognized as complex conditions arising from the interplay of environmental and biological factors. Among these, early-life stress plays a crucial role in shaping brain development and function, significantly increasing the risk of mood and neurological disorders. The mechanisms underlying this relationship involve key neuromodulators and neurosteroids, which regulate stress responses and mood stability.

Neurosteroids, known for their critical role in brain function, are essential modulators of emotional regulation and the stress response. Dysregulation of key neuromodulators, such as dopamine and serotonin, further contributes to mood disorders and offers promising therapeutic targets. This collection aims to explore pharmacological interventions that address these intricate neurobiological interactions.

Our focus is on advancing the understanding of these mechanisms to develop and evaluate novel or repurposed pharmacological treatments. Of particular interest is the integration of biomarkers into precision medicine strategies, as well as the assessment of innovative therapies, including the potentially transformative role of psychedelics.

This collection welcomes manuscripts on (but not limited to) the following themes:

- Pharmacological Interventions: Developing and assessing pharmacological treatments that modulate neurosteroids and neuromodulators in the context of early-life stress and neuropsychiatric disorders.

- Personalized Medicine: Exploring integrative approaches to precision medicine in mood and neurological disorders, leveraging insights from early-life stress, neurosteroids, neuromodulators, and biomarkers, as well as utilizing pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing in neuropsychiatric disorders to optimize treatment strategies.

- Impact of Early-Life Stress: Investigating how early-life stress influences brain vulnerability to mood and neurological disorders. This includes examining the effects of stressors such as early pharmacological exposure and substance use, as well as the role of neurosteroids in modulating stress responses and mood regulation. Special emphasis is placed on their potential as therapeutic targets in treatment strategies.

- Exploring the Impact of Chronic Stress on Brain Omics: Investigate how chronic stress affects brain omics and its implications for psychiatric and neurological disorders. Highlight the importance of considering chronic stress as a variable in the development of precision medicine strategies and therapeutic interventions, offering valuable insights.

- Impact of Systemically Administered Steroids on Neurochemical Interplay: Examining the effects of systemically administered steroids on brain chemistry, focusing on their role in influencing neurochemical networks and potential implications for neuropsychiatric conditions.

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

Novel Pharmacological Interventions in Emotional and Neuropsychiatric Disorders