Neurodevelopmental risk factors in schizophrenia

The authors review environmental and neurodevelopmental risk factors for sc hizophrenic disorders, with emphasis on minor physical anomalies, particula rly craniofacial anomalies and dermatoglyphic variations. The high prevalen ce of these anomalies among schizophrenic subjects supports the neurodevelo pmental theory of the etiology of schizophrenia, since they suggest either genetically or epigenetically controlled faulty embryonic development of st ructures of ectodermal origin like brain and skin. This may disturb neurode velopment that in turn may cause these subjects to be at increased risk for the development of schizophrenia and related disorders, The precise confir mation of this theory, at least in some cases, will provide further underst anding of these illnesses, allowing easy and inexpensive identification of subjects at risk and providing guidelines for the development of new pharma cological interventions for early treatment and even for primary prevention of the illness.