Review Article

Melatonin as a potential therapeutic agent in psychiatric illness

  1. Maria D. Maldonado1,*,
  2. Russel J. Reiter2,
  3. Maria A. Pérez-San-Gregorio3

Article first published online: 23 JUN 2009

DOI: 10.1002/hup.1032

Issue

Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental

Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental

Volume 24, Issue 5, pages 391–400, July 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Maldonado, M. D., Reiter, R. J. and Pérez-San-Gregorio, M. A. (2009), Melatonin as a potential therapeutic agent in psychiatric illness. Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental, 24: 391–400. doi: 10.1002/hup.1032

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Seville Medical School, Seville, Spain

  2. 2

    Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Centre, San Antonio, Texas, USA

  3. 3

    Department of Personality, Evaluation and Treatment Psychological, University of Seville, Seville, Spain

*Department Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Seville Medical School, Avda. Sánchez Pizjuán 4, 41009 Seville, Spain.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 29 JUN 2009
  2. Article first published online: 23 JUN 2009
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 7 APR 2009
  4. Manuscript Received: 24 FEB 2009

Funded by

  • Seville University (area of Immunology)
  • CTS-160 (Consejería de Innovación, Ciencia y Empresa. Junta de Andalucía, Spain)

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

Get PDF (120K)

Keywords:

  • melatonin;
  • immune function;
  • neuroinflammation;
  • major psychiatric disorders

Abstract

The aim of this review was to summarize the potential use of melatonin in the treatment of mental disorders, specifically bipolar disorders, depression, and schizophrenia. To date, melatonin has been most commonly used in psychiatry because of its hypnotic, rhythm resynchronizing, and antioxidant actions. Here, we examine other properties of the melatonin including its anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, anxiolytic, and drug detoxification actions as well as its protective effects against neural loss. The brain is an intricate sensory and motor organ which receives information from both the external and internal environments. It transduces information into complex chemical and electrical signals which are transmitted throughout the central nervous system (CNS) and the organism. The pathogenesis of mental disorders remains ambiguous and neuroinflammation has been proposed as a causative agent. We consider the potential contributions of melatonin as therapeutic agent in CNS and during neuroinflammation in mental disorders. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Get PDF (120K)