Molecular bases of schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a complex disorder that affects about 1% of the world population and is one of the most important causes of chronic disability. Although its etiology is unknown, the disease involves various morphologic and neurochemical abnormalities and it it's accepted that genetic factors, either alone or enhanced by environmental and epigenetic factors play a role in its pathogenesis. Numerous studies over the last forty years have involved alterations in biogenic amines mediated neurotransmission, GABAergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission to the pathology of schizophrenic psychoses. Recently, the knowledge of susceptibility genes and proteins involved in the pathology of the disease, are allowing early diagnosis and the development of a new generation of compounds that can act as antipsychotics more selectively.