title: Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: differences and overlaps.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Following the recent progress mainly in the fields of genetics and neurobiology, the validity of the diagnostic distinction between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder is increasingly challenged.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Evidence for basic neurobiological processes common for both disorders is expanding with regard to (a) susceptibility genes, (b) neurodevelopment (for example myelination), and (c) brain functions (for example sensory gating, visuospatial achievement). Recent epidemiological studies also stress communalities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The diagnostic split between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder is unable to define distinct etiological and/or pathophysiological entities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany. Wolfgang.Maier@ukb.uni-bonn.de
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Maier
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zobel
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wagner
mesh_terms: D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology