The Neuropathology of Schizophrenia: Central Role for the Hippocampus?

A change in conceptual thinking about the pathogenesis of schizophrenia has occurred over the past decades. It is now hypothesized that the disorder has its origin on brain developmental neuropathology. The so-called neurodevelopmental hypothesis proposes that schizophrenia is related to adverse conditions leading to abnormal brain development during the pre- or postnatal period. This consequently leads to long-term changes in brain structure and brain malfunction, predisposing in term to functional deficits and to symptoms that respond to antidopaminergic drugs (Weinberger 1996).