Prenatal infectious and nutritional factors and risk of adult schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a severely disabling psychiatric disorder. Despite a considerable amount of research on the underpinnings of the disorder, its etiology and pathogenesis remain unknown. In utero exposures, including infection and nutritional deficiencies, are emerging important risk factors for schizophrenia, in which neurodevelopmental influences probably play an important role. Our group and others have embarked on investigations aimed at identifying these risk factors and examining the mechanisms by which they increase vulnerability to this disorder. This work has the potential to lead to strategies aimed at preventing this disorder and to reveal new molecular targets for pharmacotherapeutic intervention.