Towards a unified theory of the aetiology of schizophrenia

Br J Psychiatry. 2024 Aug;225(2):299-301. doi: 10.1192/bjp.2024.65.

Abstract

We emphasise the existence of two distinct neurophysiological subtypes in schizophrenia, characterised by different sites of initial grey matter loss. We review evidence for potential neuromolecular mechanisms underlying these subtypes, proposing a biologically based disease classification approach to unify macro- and micro-scale neural abnormalities of schizophrenia.

Keywords: Schizophrenia; aetiology; biotype; hippocampus; neuromolecular mechanism.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain / physiopathology
  • Gray Matter / pathology
  • Humans
  • Schizophrenia* / classification
  • Schizophrenia* / etiology
  • Schizophrenia* / physiopathology