Schizophrenia

Abstract

Schizophrenia is a complex disorder, the aetiology of which remains uncertain despite decades of dedicated research. Numerous studies have uncovered a diverse range of changes in the brains of persons with schizophrenia. This chapter provides an overview of the disorder and describes the emerging understanding of its cause(s) and how these relate to neurodevelopment and fronto-striatal systems. The pattern of the emergence of the symptoms of this disorder is clearly consistent with a neurodevelopmental origin. There are a range of potential genetic, neurochemical and environmental factors that seemingly contribute to the progressive development of this disorder, as individual's progress from childhood through adolescence and into early adult life. There are widespread brain changes in individuals with schizophrenia and disruption in several neurotransmitter systems. Gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, and there is substantial evidence that cortical GABA neurotransmission is also altered in schizophrenia.