Author(s):
Vaishnavi S. Solav, Anjali M. Wankhade, Vivek V. Paithankar, Jugalkishor V. Vyas
Email(s):
Vsolav2000@gmail.com
DOI:
10.52711/2321-5836.2026.00039 
Address:
Vaishnavi S. Solav*, Anjali M. Wankhade, Vivek V. Paithankar, Jugalkishor V. Vyas
Department of Pharmacology, Vidyabharti College of Pharmacy, Amravati 444601, Maharashtra, India.
*Corresponding Author
Published In:
Volume - 18,
Issue - 3,
Year - 2026
ABSTRACT:
Schizophrenia is a chronic and heterogeneous neuropsychiatric condition that affects approximately one percent of the global population and is associated with substantial impairments in perception, cognition, emotional regulation, and social functioning. The disorder typically manifests during late adolescence or early adulthood and arises from a complex interaction between genetic susceptibility and environmental influences acting during critical stages of brain development. Clinically, schizophrenia is characterized by three major symptom clusters: positive symptoms, including hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking; negative symptoms, such as reduced motivation, emotional blunting, social withdrawal, and diminished pleasure; and cognitive deficits involving attention, memory, learning, and executive processing. Traditional dopamine-centered theories primarily explain the emergence of positive symptoms but fail to adequately account for persistent negative and cognitive impairments. Contemporary research highlights the involvement of glutamatergic dysregulation, particularly N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor hypofunction, altered serotonergic signaling, and disrupted cortico–striatal–thalamic connectivity. Neuroimaging studies further demonstrate widespread structural and functional brain abnormalities, supporting a neurodevelopmental basis for the disorder. Increasing evidence also implicates neuroinflammatory processes, immune imbalance, and oxidative stress in the progression of neuronal dysfunction and white matter damage. Although currently available antipsychotic medications effectively alleviate positive symptoms in many patients, their clinical benefit is limited by adverse effects and insufficient efficacy against negative and cognitive domains. These limitations emphasize the necessity for safer and more comprehensive therapeutic strategies. This review summarizes current understanding of the clinical features, etiological factors, biological mechanisms, and pharmacological management of schizophrenia, while outlining emerging therapeutic targets that may guide future research and drug development.
Cite this article:
Vaishnavi S. Solav, Anjali M. Wankhade, Vivek V. Paithankar, Jugalkishor V. Vyas. Pharmacological Insights in to Schizophrenia: Neurochemical Dysregulation, Disease Mechanisms and Future Therapeutic Strategies. Research Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics.2026;18(3):289-6. doi: 10.52711/2321-5836.2026.00039
Cite(Electronic):
Vaishnavi S. Solav, Anjali M. Wankhade, Vivek V. Paithankar, Jugalkishor V. Vyas. Pharmacological Insights in to Schizophrenia: Neurochemical Dysregulation, Disease Mechanisms and Future Therapeutic Strategies. Research Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics.2026;18(3):289-6. doi: 10.52711/2321-5836.2026.00039 Available on: https://www.rjppd.org/AbstractView.aspx?PID=2026-18-3-10
REFERENCES:
1. Ben-Azu B, Aderibigbe AO, Adeoluwa OA, Iwalewa EO. Ethanol Extract of Terminalia Ivorensis Stem Bark Attenuates Positive, Negative, And Cognitive Symptoms of psychosis in Experimental Models. Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International. 2016; 1–4.
2. Kalaiselvi S, Manimaran V, Damodharan N. Nanoparticle as a powerful tool to penetrate the Blood-brain barrier in the treatment of neurodegenerative disease: Focus on recent advances. Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology. 2020 May 1; 13(5): 2135-43.
3. Preethi PJ, Padmini K, Srikanth J, Lohita M, Swetha K. Screening Models for CNS Stimulant Drugs: A Review. Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research. 2013; 3(3): 144-50.
4. Chatterjee M, Seema S, Reena K, Verma AK, Gautam P. Evaluation of the Antipsychotic Potential of Panax Quinquefolium in A Ketamine-Induced Psychosis Model in Mice. Neurochemical Research. 2012;37(4):759–770.
5. Fatani BZ, Aldawod R, Alhawaj A, Alsadah S, Slais FR, Alyaseen EN, Et Al. Schizophrenia: Etiology, Pathophysiology and Management. The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine. 2017; 69(6): 2640–2646.
6. Rubeša G, Gudelj L, Kubinska N. Etiology of Schizophrenia and Therapeutic Options. Psychiatria Danubina. 2011;23(3):308–315.
7. Suvitha S, Kanimozhi S, Kanimozhi S, Kathiyayani M, Madhuri K. Literature Review related to Association between Mental Health and Academic Performance among Adolescents. A and V Pub International Journal of Nursing and Medical Research. 2023 Dec; 2(4): 130-2.
8. Team ET. Guideline For Pharmacological Treatment of Schizophrenia. 2022.
9. Jadhav Sameer S, Salunkhe Vijay R, Magdum Chandrakant S. Daily Consumption of Antioxidants: -Prevention of Disease Is Better Than Cure. Asian J. Pharm. Res. 2013 Jan; 3(1): 33-9.
10. Uttara B, Singh AV, Zamboni P, Mahajan R. Oxidative Stress and Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Review of Upstream and Downstream Antioxidant Therapeutic Options. Current Neuropharmacology. 2009 Mar 1; 7(1): 65-74.
11. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic And Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th Ed. Washington DC: American Psychiatric Publishing; 2013.
12. Moran M. Analysis Supports DSM-5 Changes to Schizophrenia Criteria.
13. Gebreegziabhere Y, Habatmu K, Mihretu A, Cella M, Alem A. Cognitive Impairment in People with Schizophrenia: An Umbrella Review. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience. 2022; 272(7): 1139–1155.
14. Mccutcheon RA, Krystal JH, Howes OD. Dopamine And Glutamate in Schizophrenia: Biology, Symptoms and Treatment. World Psychiatry. 2020; 19(1): 15–33.
15. Siever LJ, Davis KL. The Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders. American Journal of Psychiatry. 2004; 161(3): 398–413.
16. Freedman R, Adler LE, Myles-Worsley M, Et Al. Inhibitory Gating of Auditory Evoked Responses In Schizophrenia. Archives Of General Psychiatry. 1996; 53: 1114–1121.
17. Cadenhead KS, Light GA, Geyer MA, Braff DL. Sensory Gating Deficits in Schizotypal Personality Disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry. 2000; 157: 55–59.
18. Salisbury DF, Voglmaier MM, Seidman LJ, Mccarley RW. P300 Abnormalities In Schizotypal Personality Disorder. Biological Psychiatry. 1996; 40: 165–172.
19. Trestman RL, Horvath TB, Kalus O, Et Al. Event-Related Potentials in Schizotypal Personality Disorder. Journal Of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences. 1996; 8:33–40.
20. Fadgyas-Stanculete M, Capatina OO. Glutamate-Based Therapeutic Strategies for Schizophrenia. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2025; 26(9): 4331.
21. Okubo R, Okada M, Motomura E. NMDA Receptor Dysfunction in Schizophrenia and Treatment Resistance. Biomolecules. 2024; 14(9): 1128.
22. Bakshi I, Dey S, Katta S, Raut AJ. Understanding Postpartum Depression: A Comprehensive Review. International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research. 2024; 6(2): 191-4.
23. Abrahamyan Empson L, Et Al. Urbanicity and Psychosis Risk. Early Intervention in Psychiatry. 2020; 14: 398–409.
24. Amato D, Beasley CL, Hahn MK, Vernon AC. Neuroadaptations to Antipsychotic Drugs. Neuroscience And Biobehavioral Reviews. 2017; 76: 317–335.
25. Papaiah S, Babu VR, Rao TS, Jackson DD, Senthilkumar KL. Memory Enhancing Property of Santalum Album L. On Mice. Research Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics. 2010 Feb 28; 2(1): 94-6.
26. Stępnicki P, Kondej M, Kaczor AA. Current Concepts and Treatments of Schizophrenia. Molecules. 2018; 23(8): 2087.
27. Sahu D, Bhushan S, Das D, Debnath SK, Barik L, Meena V, Singh V, Dixit AK, Prasad PV. Potential Ayurvedic Herbs for Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Review. Research Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics. 2021 Apr 1; 13(2): 69-74.
28. Kumar S, Kumar D, Gulia S, Thakur M. Traumatic Brain Injury: Role in Induction and Progression of Neurodegenerative Disorders. Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology. 2024 Apr 1; 17(4): 1909-15.
29. Patel CK, Panigrahi B, Badmanaban R, Patel CN. Biochemical Origins of Alzheimer’s Disease with Treatment Techniques. Research Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics. 2010 Feb 28; 2(1): 33-8.
30. A Mustafa AM, Abdou K, Et Al. Natural Compounds for Schizophrenia Management. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Archives of Pharma