Imbalances in our brain's chemical messengers, called neurotransmitters, play a key role in mental health issues. The main neurotransmitters we will talk about are serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, GABA, and glutamate.

1. Serotonin:

   • When serotonin levels are off, it can lead to mood problems like depression and anxiety.
   • About 60% of people with major depression show changes in how their serotonin works.

2. Dopamine:

   • The dopamine hypothesis says that too much dopamine activity can be linked to schizophrenia, while not enough dopamine is seen in Parkinson’s disease.
   • Research shows that around 70% of those with schizophrenia have problems with their dopamine levels, especially in a certain brain pathway.

3. Norepinephrine:

   • Low chances of norepinephrine can cause feelings of depression, while high levels can show up in anxiety disorders.
   • It's estimated that about 50% of people with anxiety disorders have higher norepinephrine activity.

4. GABA:

   • GABA helps calm the brain down, and lower levels of it are connected to anxiety and mood issues.
   • Studies suggest that 30% to 50% of people with generalized anxiety disorder have less GABA.

5. Glutamate:

   • Glutamate is the main neurotransmitter that stimulates the brain. When glutamate is out of balance, it can relate to conditions like schizophrenia and major depression.
   • Elevated levels of glutamate can be found in about 30% of people with schizophrenia.

By understanding these neurotransmitter imbalances, doctors can provide better treatments. For example, they might prescribe medications like SSRIs to help with low serotonin or antipsychotics for dopamine imbalances. This can make treatments more effective for people with mental health issues.