57 selleck screening library schizophrenia spectrum disorders There is an emerging formulation from several laboratories that schizophrenia is part of a larger set of disorders called schizophrenia spectrum disorders or schizotaxia; these disorders are related to each other in terms of genetics, symptom expression, cognitive characteristics, and, potentially, pathophysiology. Schizophrenia itself may be the most severe manifestation of the class and Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical characterized by the most flagrant psychosis and the worst psychosocial

function (Figure 1). But impairment at multiple levels and schizophrenialike symptoms span the entire spectrum group. Approximately 20% of family members of an individual with schizophrenia have spectrum manifestations. Moreover, approximately 20% of persons with spectrum Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical manifestations have symptoms that are severe enough to impair work function and may benefit from antipsychotic treatment (G. Thaker, personal communication). Figure 1. Schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The prevalences of schizophrenia and schizophrenia-related personality disorders in the general population are 1% and 5%, respectively; the prevalence of both together is 6%. First-degree relatives of schizophrenic probands may display many of the cognitive symptoms characteristic of schizophrenia, only without the florid psychosis. These include task-related impairments in attention,

language Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical comprehension, verbal fluency, verbal memory, and spatial working memory. It is suspected that these cognitive disturbances in relatives Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical occur predominantly in those with spectrum symptoms, however more study is required. Some adjustments in the criteria for spectrum disorder (ie, loosening) may be required for that diagnosis to capture all affected persons. Considering Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical spectrum disorders as a relevant diagnostic category adds 5% to the prevalence of the schizophrenia diagnosis. Perhaps up to 20% of the spectrum group is impaired enough to require treatment. These observations may serve to broaden our concepts of schizophrenia, its manifestations, and beneficial treatment opportunities. Brain

structure and function in schizophrenia Brain structure One of the first discoveries in schizophrenia using modern imaging technologies Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase was structural, first with computerized axial tomography (CAT) scanning and later with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Johnstone and Crow58 then Weinberger59 described enlarged cerebral ventricles in persons with the illness. Over time, an overwhelming number of confirmations have accumulated.59,60 Ventricular size is a crude and nonspecific indication of cerebral dysfunction, and possibly only an epiphenomenon of this illness. However, this observation has served to redirect interest toward examining the brain for abnormal characteristics in persons with the illness.