Environmental Risks for Psychiatric Disorders

Exploring Biological Mechanisms
March 21 – 22, 2017
NIEHS

Meeting Purpose

As emerging evidence links toxicant exposure with central nervous system and behavior changes consistent with disorders ranging from schizophrenia to depression, it is important to incorporate environmental factors in the study of these diseases to allow for better preventative and therapeutic strategies. The workshop brought together experts in the fields of psychiatry, fundamental neuroscience, human genetics, immunology and environmental health sciences to identify common pathways and mechanisms implicated in psychiatric disorders that are potential targets of environmental exposures. This workshop sought to generate a publishable report on the state of the science, and help determine the most appropriate and productive directions for research in the area of environmental factors in risk for mental disorders.