Redefining schizophrenia through genetics: A commentary on 50 years searching for biological causes

Abstract

The theme of this special is to ask individuals doing research relevant to schizophrenia to answer whether the current schizophrenia construct viable or salvageable, whether there are alternative more viable constructs, and what approaches we would recommend to move the field forward. We would argue that the general construct of schizophrenia does still retain utility, but that there are a number of changes needed to future research to enhance the pace and utility of our research progress. These recommendations include: a) increasing the numbers of studies that include participants across the spectrum of psychosis, from psychotic-like experiences to full clinical diagnoses; b) ensuring that population-based studies include measures of the psychosis spectrum; c) ensuring that studies across the spectrum of psychosis capture the full range of symptoms, including negative symptoms and cognition, and not just the positive symptoms of psychosis, and d) enhancing collaboration across researchers examining different types of risk factors and correlates to better understand the complexity of gene-environment interactions in generating and modulating risk for psychosis spectrum disorders.