Amylin and Amylin Agonists for Treating Psychiatric Diseases and Disorders

Abstract

Methods and compositions for treating psychiatric diseases and disorders are disclosed. The methods provided generally involve the administration of an amylin or an amylin agonist to a subject in order to treat psychiatric diseases and disorders, and conditions associated with psychiatric diseases and disorders.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating a substance addiction in a human in need thereof comprising administering to the human a therapeutically effective amount of a peptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:6 to treat the substance addiction. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the substance addiction is alcohol addiction. 
     
     
         3 . A method for treating a substance addiction in a human in need thereof comprising administering to the human a therapeutically effective amount of a peptide having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:6 to treat the substance addiction. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the peptide has at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:6. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the substance addiction is alcohol addiction. 
     
     
         6 . A method for treating a mood disorder in a human in need thereof comprising administering to the human a therapeutically effective amount of a peptide having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:6 to treat the mood disorder. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the peptide has at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:6. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the peptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:6. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the mood disorder is bipolar disorder. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the mood disorder is major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, bipolar I disorder, bipolar II disorder, or cyclothymic disorder. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising administering to the subject at least one other psychiatric medication. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising administering to the subject (i) a tricyclic antidepressant; (ii) a monoamine oxidase inhibitor; (iii) a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor; (iv) a serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor; (v) a second generation antipsychotic medication; or (vi) a combination of two or more thereof.