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Schizophrenia: a disorder of neurodevelopment?
1Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, University of Oxford, OX3 7JX, UK. paul.harrison@psychiatry.ox.ac.uk
Current Opinion in Neurobiology
|April 1, 1997
Summary
Schizophrenia may stem from abnormal brain development, according to a new hypothesis supported by empirical data. This neurodevelopmental model integrates neuropathological, epidemiological, and clinical evidence, while acknowledging its limitations.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder with unclear etiology.
- Existing hypotheses lack comprehensive empirical support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a novel pathogenic hypothesis for schizophrenia.
- To propose that schizophrenia arises from aberrant brain development.
Main Methods:
- Review and synthesis of existing neuropathological findings.
- Analysis of epidemiological data related to schizophrenia.
- Integration of clinical observations supporting a developmental model.
Main Results:
- Empirical data supports a neurodevelopmental origin for schizophrenia.
- Neuropathological, epidemiological, and clinical evidence converge on this model.
Conclusions:
- The neurodevelopmental hypothesis offers a plausible framework for understanding schizophrenia.
- Further research is needed to address the weaknesses of this model.