The biochemical womb of schizophrenia: A review

Indian J Clin Biochem. 2008 Oct;23(4):307-27. doi: 10.1007/s12291-008-0071-x. Epub 2008 Dec 20.

Abstract

The conclusive identification of specific etiological factors or pathogenic processes in the illness of schizophrenia has remained elusive despite great technological progress. The convergence of state-of-art scientific studies in molecular genetics, molecular neuropathophysiology, in vivo brain imaging and psychopharmacology, however, indicates that we may be coming much closer to understanding the genesis of schizophrenia. In near future, the diagnosis and assessment of schizophrenia using biochemical markers may become a "dream come true" for the medical community as well as for the general population. An understanding of the biochemistry/ visa vis pathophysiology of schizophrenia is essential to the discovery of preventive measures and therapeutic intervention.

Keywords: Biochemical markers; Neurobiology; Schizophrenia.