Citation

Steiner M, Lepage P, Dunn EJ. Int. J. Psychiatry Clin. Prac. 1997; 1(1): 3-13.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.3109/13651509709069200

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The serotonergic system has been linked to the etiology of several, albeit disparate, psychiatric disorders. The accumulation of many lines of evidence support the view that there are gender differences in the serotonergic system in humans. It is further proposed that a gender differentiated serotonergic system acts as the nidus for the development of gender-specific psychiatric disorders. Depression, anxiety and eating disorders are largely seen in females, whereas alcoholism, aggressivity and suicide predominate in males. Evidence from both animal and human studies suggesting that the serotonergic system mediates between social-environmental experience and biological states is presented and reviewed. A reconceptualization of the serotonergic system as a gender-specific psychobiological interface is proposed.

Language: en

Keywords

Gender; Psychiatric disorders; Psychobiology; Serotonin