Year: 2021 Source: European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience. (2021). DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-021-01334-z SIEC No: 20210766

This narrative review examines the possible role of microglial cells, frst, in neuroinfammation and, second, in schizophrenia, depression, and suicide. Recent research on the interactions between microglia, astrocytes and neurons and their
involvement in pathophysiological processes of neuropsychiatric disorders is presented. This review focuses on results from
postmortem, positron emission tomography (PET) imaging studies, and animal models of schizophrenia and depression.
Third, the efects of antipsychotic and antidepressant drug therapy, and of electroconvulsive therapy on microglial cells are
explored and the upcoming development of therapeutic drugs targeting microglia is described. Finally, there is a discussion
on the role of microglia in the evolutionary progression of human lineage. This view may contribute to a new understanding
of neuropsychiatric disorders