THE PSYCHOBIOLOGY OF THE ACUTE SCHIZOPHRENIC EPISODE

Despite intensive worldwide attempts to clarify the pathogenesis of sc hizophrenia many questions are still open. Evidence is accumulating to suggest that structural abnormalities in various cortical and limbic areas result at least partly from neurodevelopmental disturbances. Pre natal and/or perinatal factors are supposed to play an important role. There is a growing belief that acute schizophrenic symptomatology mig ht be a result of deficits in the sensory filtering process at the lev el of the thalamus. Several neurotransmitter systems have been implica ted in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, supporting a neurotransmi tter imbalance model. Dysfunctions of the dopaminergic and glutamaterg ic systems may be predominantly involved.