[Recent advances in the comprehension and understanding of schizophrenia]

In this article we explore the changes that the concept of schizophrenia has undergone in the last century, its difficulties, discoveries of the last 20 years and the future way for the study of this illness. Nowadays it is known that schizophrenia is not one morbid entity and is heterogeneous in its clinic and outcome. It has been demonstrated that cognitive deficits make up the core of this illness and determine the functionality of the patient. Some of the neurobiological disturbances and models are revised as well as the psychopharmacological and psychosocial treatments that have been proved to be more effective for this illness. A paradigmatic shift in psychiatric nosography will grant more possibilities for a true comprehension of this disease.