Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 23, 2026
05:52
Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis
Published on: November 21, 2013
Neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia: update 2012
J L Rapoport1, J N Giedd, N Gogtay
1Child Psychiatry Branch, NIH, NIMH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. rapoporj@mail.nih.gov
Molecular Psychiatry
|April 11, 2012
Summary
The neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia is updated by new research. Findings suggest early brain development issues, not specific genes, may offer broad targets for preventing psychosis spectrum disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- The neurodevelopmental model is dominant for childhood-onset neuropsychiatric disorders.
- This review updates a 2005 assessment of studies impacting the schizophrenia neurodevelopmental model.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent studies that modify or extend the neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia.
- To explore new insights into the early origins of psychosis spectrum disorders.
Main Methods:
- Review of longitudinal whole-population studies.
- Analysis of genetic variant studies, including copy number variants (CNVs).
- Examination of gene expression studies and developmental brain imaging.
Main Results:
- Longitudinal studies support a dimensional concept of psychosis.
- Placental pathology emerges as a potential prenatal risk marker.
- Genetic variants (common and rare) are diagnostically nonspecific.
- CNVs linked to schizophrenia also associate with autism, epilepsy, and intellectual disability.
Conclusions:
- Early brain development timing and nature may be key.
- Biological nonspecificity offers potential for broad preventive treatments.
- Further research into molecular specificity and neuronal phenotyping is ongoing.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders
Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose origins are rooted in complex genetic components. Despite our burgeoning understanding, the pathophysiology of this disorder remains incompletely deciphered.
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within the...
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within the...
01:29Biological Causes of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a severe psychiatric disorder, arises from a complex interplay of biological factors, including genetic predisposition, structural brain abnormalities, neurotransmitter dysregulation, and developmental irregularities. These factors collectively contribute to the onset and progression of the disorder, which typically manifests in late adolescence or early adulthood.
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin studies.
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin studies.
01:29Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...
01:17Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a term introduced by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1911, describes a severe psychological disorder marked by profound disruptions in attention, thought processes, language, emotion, and interpersonal relationships. The core feature of schizophrenia is psychosis — a state characterized by a fundamental detachment from reality. This disconnection manifests through distorted logic, impaired perception, and atypical behavior, severely affecting the lives of those diagnosed.
01:28Psychosis and Antipsychotic Drugs: Overview
The term "psychosis" refers to a spectrum of mental disorders characterized by abnormal thoughts, perceptions, and behaviors. It can manifest as mood disorders, dementia, delirium with psychotic features, substance-induced psychosis with psychotic features, brief psychotic disorder, delusional disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and schizophrenia. Among all these disorders, schizophrenia is the most common psychotic disorder, affecting 1% of the worldwide population. Psychotic symptoms in all...
01:30Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia: Hallucinations and Delusions
Schizophrenia is a complex mental health disorder that can manifest with various positive symptoms, including thought, movement, and behavior disorders. These symptoms significantly disrupt cognitive and motor functions, leading to profound effects on an individual's ability to engage with the world.
Thought Disorders
Disorganized and unusual thought processes mark thought disorders in schizophrenia. One key feature is disorganized speech, where an individual's conversation includes loosely...
Thought Disorders
Disorganized and unusual thought processes mark thought disorders in schizophrenia. One key feature is disorganized speech, where an individual's conversation includes loosely...