A Critical Appraisal on the Epidemiological Evidence Linking Perinatal Inflammation and Risk of Psychosis

Since the dawn of psychiatry as a medical discipline, physicians and researchers struggle with theories that could explain the origin of schizophrenia. Among several hypotheses, perinatal inflammation remains one of great importance not only for the schizophrenia syndrome but also to major neurodevelopmental disorders as autism. In this chapter, a summary of the evidence and relevance to support neuroinflammation as an important factor increasing the risk for schizophrenia is highlighted. The limitations of this theory are discussed together with other synergistic factors that could influence the diathesis of schizophrenia.