Practical Aspects of Animal Models of Psychiatric Disorders

Mental illness and dementia are associated with tremendous personal and societal cost. Twenty percent of the population in Canada experiences a mental illness or addiction every year, and 50% of the population experiences mental illness by age 40.1 Mental health care and reduced productivity are estimated to cost the Canadian economy $51 billion every year.2 Similarly, more than 500,000 Canadians are currently living with dementia, with an estimated $10.4 billion per year in health care costs.3 However, despite the prevalence and burden of these brain disorders, effective treatments remain elusive for many individuals. Psychiatric disorders are particularly difficult entities to diagnose and treat because of the heterogeneity of their causes and symptoms. Many of the drugs used to treat these disorders have long delays before efficacy, remain ineffective for many patients, and present with adverse side effects that decrease patient compliance. Thus, there is an urgent need for new and more effective pharmacotherapies