Schizophrenia and liver dysfunction

It is suggested that a non-hepatocellular liver dysfunction, caused by the presence of a congenital or acquired portal-systemic shunt, constitutes a m ajor predisposing factor in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. In addition to the common occurrence of schizophrenic reactions observed in liver disea se, this suggestion is supported by autoptic findings in addition to the fa ct that a considerable number of abnormal biochemical and biological phenom ena are shared by patients suffering from schizophrenia and portal-systemic shunting. The frequency of abnormal portal-systemic shunts in schizophreni a is unknown. Recent advances in non-invasive Doppler-sonographic technique s should enable an elucidation of this question. (C) 2001 Harcourt Publishe rs Ltd.