Some genes suspected of causing schizophrenia are activated in the developing brain before birth, a study published October 27 in the journal Nature suggests. Insights into other prenatal factors that contribute to schizophrenia are also emerging—for example, that when fetal distress is followed by developmental delay, it increases a child's risk of developing schizophrenia fivefold. For information about this study, see Psychiatric News. Information about still other prenatal factors that increase the risk of schizophrenia can be found in the new American Psychiatric Publishing book Essentials of Schizophrenia, which provides the latest knowledge of the causes, nature, and treatment of schizophrenia. (Image: StockLIte/Shutterstock.com)
