The genetics of Schizophrenia is far more complex than expected, say two
Italian psychiatrists.
Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder, impacting on the lives of the affected subjects with a wide range of symptoms, disabilities and emotional distress. Currently, about 0.5-1% of the worldÕs total population is thought to be affected by this disorder.
Schizophrenia is a syndrome with a clearly recognizable familial recurrence. Recent studies support the notion that some genetic-controlled conditions increasing the risk of obstetric complications are also associated with a higher risk of schizophrenia. An appreciably higher representation of cases of schizophrenia was found among those families where a higher number of subjects were reported having experienced specific obstetric complications.
Obstetric complications, however, do not automatically lead
to the development of schizophrenia. Only those lesions
affecting the specific, yet to be identified cerebral areas involved in the pathophysiology of the schizophrenic symptomatology
will result in an increased risk of the disorder.
A competitive overlapping of putatively favouring,
protective and aggravating genes is likely to be in cause.
Doctors Antonio Preti and Paola Miotto, two psychiatrists operating in
Due to the widespread occurrence of schizophrenia and its
highly impairing course, investments are required and appropriate on the part
of both public health authorities and private companies involved in drug
development and research to further explore the complex genetics of this
disorder.
References:
Antonio Preti, Paola Miotto
Current Psychiatry Reviews, 2005;
1: 139-150.
Antonio Preti
Obstetric complications, genetics and schizophrenia
European Psychiatry, 2005; 20: 354
Contacts:
Dr Antonio Preti
SchizophreniaProject
e-mail: apreti@tin.it