Since the discovery of dopamine as a neurotransmitter in the late 1950s, schizophrenia has been associated with changes in the dopaminergic system. However, the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia cannot explain all the symptoms associated with this disorder. Therefore, research has also focused on the role of other neurotransmitter systems, including glutamate, g-aminobutyric acid, serotonin, and acetylcholine (ACh) in schizophrenia. More »

Suicide is a devastating, tragically frequent outcome for persons with varying psychiatric conditions, including schizophrenia. An estimated 5% to 10% of persons with schizophrenia commit suicide and 20% to 50% attempt suicide during their lifetime.^1,2 Patients with schizophrenia have more than an 8-fold increased risk of completing suicide (based on the standardized mortality ratio) than the general population.³ More »

New research is examining the link between schizophrenia/psychosis and select infections affecting the CNS. Two reports investigated this link in children and military personnel in the January 2008 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry. More »

Each year more than 440,000 people in the United States die of smoking-related illness, and nearly half a billion dollars in health-related economic losses are directly attributable to smoking. More »

The number of prescriptions for antipsychotic treatment of teenagers has increased sharply in office-based medical practice. Adolescents with psychotic symptoms frequently present for clinical evaluation, and early-onset schizophrenia spectrum disorders (onset of psychotic symptoms before the age of 18 years) represent an important consideration in the differential diagnosis in these youths More »

Schizophrenia is among the top 10 disabling conditions worldwide for young adults. In the United States, the cost of treatment and loss in productivity associated with schizophrenia are estimated to be as high as $60 billion annually. More »

It is a pleasure to introduce this series of 4 special articles on schizophrenia. As industry support has shaped postgraduate psychiatric education, the quantity of educational programs has grown dramatically while the breadth of topics has not. More »

Extensive evidence supports the importance of the involvement of families in the mental health care of patients with schizophrenia and other serious mental illnesses. Family involvement is endorsed by the President's New Freedom Commission and the American Psychiatric Association Practice Guidelines on schizophrenia. More »