Current conceptualizations of psychiatric illnesses as neurological disorders

This paper reviews a recent body of evidence from computed tomography, imaging methods, and neuropsychological testing, emphasizing schizophrenia. The review indicates important characteristics of this disorder that can be conceptualized as similar to neurological disorders, and that have a probable neuropathologic basis. Although the argument is compelling in many respects, cautionary observations are also discussed, and a need for positioning subgroups based on neurological etiology is advanced. This serves as an introduction to a discussion of neurological diseases as potential models for psychiatric disorders.