多巴胺在精神分裂症、抑郁症和成瘾中的作用

The Role of Dopamine in Schizophrenia, Depression, and Addiction

摘要: 多巴胺是一种单胺类神经递质，释放多巴胺作为神经递质的神经元称为多巴胺能神经元，其主要分布在中脑的黑质致密部和腹侧被盖区并与其他脑区的神经元形成神经环路调控不同的行为。多巴胺系统涉及大脑功能的许多不同方面，包括运动、情感和认知。在精神分裂症的研究中发现精神分裂症患者的多巴胺信号系统紊乱，表现为特定脑区的多巴胺水平高度活跃。在抑郁症的研究中发现，抑郁症中的快感缺乏与多巴胺奖赏系统的功能障碍有关，表现为特定脑区的多巴胺活动水平下降。此外，多巴胺也与成瘾行为有着密切的关系。在可卡因、酒精、尼古丁和咖啡因成瘾中，多巴胺系统表现出活动水平显著增加。

Abstract: Dopamine is a monoamine neurotransmitter, and the neurons that release dopamine as a neuro-transmitter are called dopaminergic neurons, which are mainly distributed in the substantia nigra compacts and the ventral tegmental area of the midbrain, and form neural circuits to regulate different behaviors with neurons in other brain areas. The dopamine system is involved in many different aspects of brain function, including movement, emotion, and cognition. In the study of schizophrenia, it has been found that the dopamine signaling system is disturbed in schizophrenia patients, which is manifested by highly active dopamine levels in specific brain regions. In studies of depression, anhedonia in depression has been found to be associated with dysfunction of the dopamine reward system, manifested by decreased levels of dopamine activity in specific brain regions. In addition, dopamine is also closely related to addictive behavior. In addiction to cocaine, alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine, the dopamine system shows significantly increased levels of activity.