Schizophrenia and the Brain

Abstract

Schizophrenia is a devastating disease of unknown cause. Its protean symptoms range from a pervasive blunting of affect, thought, and socialization, to florid hallucinations and delusions. Its characteristic onset during adolescence and young adulthood interferes with the most productive period of life and results in prolonged suffering. Even with the most up-to-date management, about half the patients have chronic deterioration, and the rest a more episodic course. The worldwide prevalence is approximately 1 percent. In the United States alone, the cost to society runs from $10 to $20 billion yearly.¹ There have been two major advances in this field recently. . . .