Contributor Information Marc Lamelle, Departments of Psychiatry and Radiology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA. Anissa Abi-Dargham, Departments of Psychiatry and Radiology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA.
It is over 100 years since Kraepelin delineated dementia praccox from manic depressive psychoses,1 and nearly that long since Bleuler reformulated schizophrenia from dementia praecox.2 In that time, progress toward effective treatments Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical for schizophrenia has been slow, but tangible.

At least three sources of Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical progress are clearly identifiable. First, and most generally, treatments for schizophrenia, and other mental illnesses have became more humane, and are now aligned more closely (although not. closely enough) with treatments for other medical problems than used to be the case. Second, antipsychotic medications have become

a first line of defense, and have improved the lives of most patients. This is particularly true of the newer generation of pharmaceutical agents. Third, a greater understanding Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical of the genetic basis of schizophrenia underlies much of our recent progress, in part through its focus on reliable and valid diagnoses. This paper will focus on one consequence of genetic studies, which is the recognition that schizophrenic illness is broader than the Diagnostic and Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) or International Classification of Diseases (ICD) diagnoses of schizophrenia, and exists as a. “spectrum” of conditions. While some spectrum disorders are nearly as severe as schizophrenia (eg, schizoaffective disorder), others are milder and do not. involve psychosis Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical (eg, schizotypal personality disorder [SPD]).The spectrum concept, has numerous implications for treatment.

For example, therapeutic efforts vary across schizophrenia spectrum disorders as functions of both the severity and the type of symptoms. These differences are of great selleckchem importance in understanding the core features of schizophrenic conditions. In particular, the fact. that, psychosis is not a major feature of all schizophrenia spectrum disorders suggests Vasopressin Receptor that other, more subtle symptoms might better reflect the underlying etiology of schizophrenic illness, throughout the associated spectrum of disorders. If such deficits are identifiable, they may provide a foundation for treatment strategies. Moreover, if they are identified early, they may even prevent, psychosis. The discussion of spectrum disorders here will focus on symptoms that may reflect the genetic predisposition for schizophrenia.