Article to read- Dopamine, an essential neurotransmitter in the brain, has a diverse function in the regulation of mood, motivation, reward, and movement control (Stahl, 2021).  Within the domain of psychiatric diagnoses, dopamine plays a crucial role in the development and manifestation of certain illnesses, such as schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and Parkinson’s disease.

Schizophrenia is associated with an overabundance of dopamine activity in the mesolimbic pathway, resulting in the emergence of positive symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions. In contrast, unpleasant symptoms might arise from a lack of dopamine. According to Stahl (2021), Typical antipsychotic drugs, like haloperidol, work by acting as dopamine antagonists, which means they reduce excessive dopamine transmission in the brain, so easing symptoms.

Major depressive illness is characterized by impaired dopamine activity in the brain’s reward circuits, According to Sekhon et al. (2023), which leads to symptoms such as anhedonia (inability to experience pleasure) and reduced motivation. These symptoms are indicative of a lack of dopamine. Bupropion, an unconventional antidepressant, functions as a dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, augmenting dopaminergic activity to enhance mood and motivation.

Parkinson’s disease, which is defined by a lack of dopamine in the basal ganglia, presents as motor symptoms such as tremors and bradykinesia (Zafaret al. 2023). Levodopa, a precursor of dopamine, functions as an agonist for dopamine by restoring the depleted neurotransmitter, resulting in enhanced motor performance and better management of symptoms.

To summarize, the complex interaction between dopamine and psychiatric disorders encompasses both an excessive and a deficient amount of dopamine, which leads to specific sets of symptoms. Medications are customized to rebalance dopamine transmission by either inhibiting excessive activity or stimulating insufficient levels. This effectively treats the clinical indications and symptoms associated with each condition.

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Reference Stahl. S.M. (2021). 
Stahl’s essential psychopharmacology: Prescriber’s guide. (7th ed.). Cambridge University Press.