Biological markers and schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
The delivery of biological markers for schizophrenia would greatly assist preventative strategies by identifying at-risk individuals who could then be monitored and treated in a manner with a view to minimising subsequent morbidity. This paper aims to present a selection of biological measures that may indicate risk of schizophrenia.


METHODS
A selective and brief review is provided of intensively studied putative markers, including enlarged cerebral ventricles, dopamine D2 receptor density, amphetamine-stimulated central nervous system dopamine release, plasma homovanillic acid and smooth pursuit eye tracking dysfunction.


RESULTS
A number of biological measures have been reported to be correlated with schizophrenia.


CONCLUSIONS
Presently, none of these measures has satisfactory performance characteristics in terms of predictive validity, noninvasiveness, ease of testing and low cost that would enable their widespread use. However, a few have potential for further investigation and development.
Copolov
D
D
The Mental Health Research Institute of Victoria, Parkville, Australia. dlc@mhri.edu.au
Crook
J
J
D015415:Biomarkers; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000473:pathology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011698:Pursuit, Smooth / Q000502:physiology; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000502:physiology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D015415:Biomarkers; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D004298:Dopamine