The pathogenesis of dual disorders: Neurobiological perspectives

Abstract

Dual disorder patients are characterized by a highly variable and phenotypically complex presentation. Recent research suggests that impairments within a limited number of functional neurobiological dimensions may play a central role in the vulnerability for development of dual disorders. Specifically impairments in the central regulatory role of the hippocampus and brain circuitries underlying behavioural control and stress regulation may be proposed as “trans-disease”, i.e. processes that occur across a range of disorders, making findings from one disorder relevant to the other disorders. This line of thinking may open up new ways of exploring not only the pathogenesis of dual disorders, but most importantly, may provide new targets for both treatment and prevention interventions for these patients.