Pathophysiology
Deviations
in brain morphology have been demonstrated in about 30% of the schizophrenic
patient population. The findings are consistent in brain imaging
studies over the past 20 years. The use of MRI technique has provided
evidence for enlarged ventricular system, reduced neocortical grey
matter and reduced hemispheric asymmetry.
Histochemical postmortem studies support
the findings of in vivo imaging studies and also indicate altered
patterns of neuronal migration during early brain development in
many patients with schizophrenia.
Although current hypotheses based on indirect
pharmacological evidence implicate altered dopamine, serotonin and
glutamine signaling in the brain of schizophrenia patients, experimental
results do not consistently support these hypotheses.
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