Genes-environment interaction in schizophrenia

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to present research that test hypotheses of gene-environment interaction (GxE) in schizophrenia. Family, twins studies indicate that genetic factor cannot explain the entirety of liability to schizophrenia, and that the environment plays a non-trivial role. Risk to overt schizophrenia is then an integrated function of numerous predisposing genes, environmental factors and their interactions. Gene-environment interactions were thought to be rare in psychiatry, but now clinical findings of measured GxE are emerging. The authors synthesize findings of studies implicating genes, cannabis use, brain injury, migration, obstetric complications as risk factor for the development of schizophrenia. Second, we summarize the emerging evidence about GxE in schizophrenia, we also describe strategies that may be used to further studies of GxE