Neurodevelopmental Factors in Schizophrenia

The onset of schizophrenia is usually in late adolescence or early adulthood. However, accumulating evidence has suggested that the disease condition is an outcome of gene-environment interactions that act in neural development during early life and adolescence. Some children who later develop schizophrenia have early developmental and educational and social challenges. Some patients with schizophrenia have an abundance of nonspecific neurologic soft signs and minor physical anomalies. Adolescence is a sensitive period of increased neuronal plasticity. It is important to consider early detection and intervention from the prodromal stage to early disease to prevent its devastating long-term consequences.