• B D Kelly, E O'Callaghan, A Lane, and C Larkin.
• Stanley Research Unit, Department of Adult Psychiatry, Hospitaller Order of St John of God, Blackrock, Dublin, Ireland. brendankelly35@hotmail.com
• Ir J Med Sci. 2003 Jan 1; 172 (1): 374037-40.

BackgroundSchizophrenia is a common mental illness with an incidence of 15 new cases per 100,000 population per year.AimTo review evidence for current neurodevelopmental models of the aetiology of schizophrenia.MethodsWe performed a literature search using Medline and PsychINFO. We evaluated the relevance of each article and tracked other relevant articles through references.ResultsThere is considerable evidence to support neurodevelopmental models of the aetiology of schizophrenia. One or more aetiological events occur between conception and birth that disturb central nervous system (CNS) development, leading to persisting alterations in brain structure and function. These early events, acting in concert with genetic loading and later influences or insults, predispose to the development of schizophrenia in early adulthood.ConclusionsThere have been considerable advances in schizophrenia research over the past 20 years. Future study of Indices of neural development will help advance our understanding of this common, disabling mental illness.

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