Currently becoming widely recognized, personalized psychiatry focuses on unique physiological and genetic profiles of patients to best tailor their therapy. However, the role of individual differences, as well as genetic and environmental factors, in human psychiatric disorders remains poorly understood. Animal experimental models are a valuable tool to improve our understanding of disease pathophysiology and its molecular mechanisms. Due to high reproduction capability, fully sequenced genome, easy gene editing, and high genetic and physiological homology with humans, zebrafish (Danio rerio) are emerging as a novel powerful model in biomedicine. Mounting evidence supports zebrafish as a useful model organism in CNS research. Robustly expressed in these fish, individual, strain, and sex differences shape their CNS responses to genetic, environmental, and pharmacological manipulations. Here, we discuss zebrafish as a promising complementary translational tool to further advance patient-centered personalized psychiatry.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)402-413
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Neuroscience Research
Volume97
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2019

    Research areas

  • gene–environment interactions, individual differences, personalized psychiatry, zebrafish

    Scopus subject areas

  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

ID: 35188598