The psychobiology of the acute schizophrenic episode

Despite intensive worldwide attempts to clarify the pathogenesis of schizophrenia many questions are still open. Evidence is accumulating to suggest that structural abnormalities in various cortical and limbic areas result at least partly from neurodevelopmental disturbances. Prenatal and/or perinatal factors are supposed to play an important role. There is a growing belief that acute schizophrenic symptomatology might be a result of deficits in the sensory filtering process at the level of the thalamus. Several neurotransmitter systems have been implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, supporting a neurotransmitter imbalance model. Dysfunctions of the dopaminergic and glutamatergic systems may be predominantly involved.