Schizophrenia

Led by scientists from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, a new study is homing in on a single gene suggested to be a master regulator in schizophrenia.

Research has revealed some cases of schizophrenia can be associated with abnormal protein buildup in the brain similar to that seen in neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's. It's hoped the discovery will lead to better diagnostic strategies identifying specific types of schizophrenia.

A fascinating and robust new study has for the first time examined the association between teenage psychotic experiences and exposure to air pollution. The study strikingly found higher rates of adolescent psychotic experiences significantly correlated with increased levels of urban air pollution.

A new study is helping clarify what is going on in our brains when we are hallucinating. To do this, researchers from the University of Oregon dosed mice with a powerful psychedelic drug and with unprecedented detail ​zoomed in on how the animal’s brains subsequently generated visual hallucinations.

An incredible new study is suggesting a strong association between schizophrenia and gut bacteria. The research not only reveals a correlation, but hypothesizes the microbiome to potentially play a role in altering neurologic function in ways that may amplify the symptoms of schizophrenia.

A massive new study, examining the health records over almost 150,000 people, has found three commonly prescribed drugs, including statins used to lower cholesterol, can be associated with reduced rates of psychiatric events in those suffering from serious mental illness.

A new study has revealed an intriguing link between babies born with a vitamin D deficiency and an increased risk of developing schizophrenia later in life. Although the discovery stems from observational research, the scientists suggest vitamin D plays a major role in fetal brain development.

In what is being labeled one of the biggest breakthroughs in schizophrenia research of recent times, scientists have detected heightened immune cell activity in the brains of sufferers, providing a brand new target for further research into its causes, diagnosis and treatment. ​

One of the most compelling hypotheses in research today is the belief that psychiatric disorders are related to immune irregularities. A team has added weight to that idea with a meta-analysis confirming people with autoimmune disorders are consistently more likely to develop psychotic disorders.

​A new trial into the effects of aerobic exercise on schizophrenia has added to a growing body of evidence suggesting physical activity does lessen negative symptoms associated with the condition.​

Currently, in order to make a diagnosis of schizophrenia, a doctor must assess a patient's reported symptoms … which can be somewhat subjective. According to a recent study, however, an existing optometrist's tool may be able to do the job quickly and objectively.

A compelling new study suggests that activity in the placenta could be the missing link connecting environmental factors with genetics in relation to the development of many behavioral disorders, including schizophrenia.