Objectives:
To discuss the advances and limitations of animal models in psychiatric disorders.
Method:
A narrative review of articles.
Results:
Different animal models currently demonstrate adequate validity for specific characteristics of certain mental disorders.
Conclusion:
Recognizing limitations that stay away from any mimicking of complex psychopathological symptoms in animal models, such models nonetheless represent useful tools in the study of psychiatry.
Animal model; mental disorder; psychiatry; psychopathology