The cerebellum in schizophrenia: a case of intermittent ataxia and psychosis--clinical, cognitive, and neuroanatomical correlates.

The contribution of cerebellar brain circuits to schizophrenia has been previously alluded to in the literature. This study examines current reappraisals of cerebellar involvement in cognition and behavior. An individual with documented developmental cerebellar anomalies who developed schizophrenic symptoms in late adolescence is described. Psychiatric, medical, and cognitive assessments were conducted to document the multifactorial contributions and manifestations of this dysfunction. Using this case as an example, the putative role of cerebellar dysfunction in the pathogenesis and clinical understanding of schizophrenic and psychotic illnesses is explored.