The influence of chronic treatment with psychotropic drugs on behavioral changes by social isolation.

Neurobiological changes induced by social isolation of mice are affected by several drugs in different manner. Lithium is able to prevent changes in head-twitches seen after short term isolation as well as enhanced aggressivity and enhanced spontaneous locomotion demonstrable after long term isolation. Similar to lithium are the effects of carbamazepine, whereas the other tested substances: Ca-valproate, diazepam, desipramine, clomipramine as well as piracetam, methylglucaminorotate and meclofenoxate show different effects. The model of social isolation is discussed in view of its ability to differentiate the qualities of chronic drug administration during functional dynamic changes of the CNS in animals.