Ethiology and risk signals in schizophrenia

Aetiology and risk signs in schizophrenia. A combination of genetic susceptibility and environmental hazards appear to be necessary for the expression of the schizophrenic phenotype. Actually, there is evidence of an excess of adverse events during the prenatal and/or perinatal periods, presence of behavioural and neurocognitive signs during childhood and adolescence and schizotypy personality traits in most individuals with schizophrenia. These findings suggest an pathogenetic alteration in the individual's neurodevelopment. We provide: (1) a brief overview of current literature that relates to the possible developmental origins of the illness and (2) the implications of these results in highrisk studies.