Early Clinical Intervention and Prevention in Schizophrenia

Leading and internationally recognized researchers review what is known about the liability to schizophrenia, how it progresses, what it looks like clinically-with an emphasis on a specific (proposed) syndrome of liability (schizotaxia)-and how best it might be treated now and in the near future. The authors summarize the latest findings on the genetic, early environmental, and neurodevelopmental origins of schizophrenia.

I. The Etiology and Genetics of Schizophrenia.- 1 The Genetic Basis of Schizophrenia.- 2 Early Environmental Determinants of Schizophrenia.- 3 Obstetric Risk Factors for Schizophrenia and Their Relationship to Genetic Predisposition: Following Ariadne’s Double-Stranded Thread Through Early Development.- II. The Vulnerability to Schizophrenia.- 4 The Nature of the Prodrome in Schizophrenia.- 5 The Nature of Schizotaxia.- 6 A Neuropsychological Perspective on Vulnerability to Schizophrenia: Lessons From High-Risk Studies.- 7 Neurocognitive Deficits in the Biological Relatives of Individuals With Schizophrenia.- 8 The Nature and Origin of Socioemotional Deficits in Schizophrenia.- 9 Neuroimaging Studies of Nonpsychotic First-Degree Relatives of People With Schizophrenia: Toward a Neurobiology of Vulnerability to Schizophrenia.- 10 Neurophysiological Endophenotypes in Early Detection of Schizophrenia.- 11 Is the Development of Schizophrenia Predictable?.- III. Early Intervention and Prevention of Schizophrenia.- 12 Prevention of Schizophrenia and Psychotic Behavior: Definitions and Methodological Issues.- 13 The Treatment of Schizotaxia.- 14 Treatment of the Schizophrenia Prodrome.- 15 The Role of Genetic Counseling.- IV. Challenges for the Near Future.- 16 The Biology of Schizotaxia.- 17 Molecular Medicine and the Prospects for Prevention and Early Intervention in Schizophrenia.