Schizophrenia Daily News Blog

Using Biological Markers in the Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Schizophrenia

There is an informative discussion in Psychiatric Times by medical doctors Saran, Phanksalkar, and Kablinger, compiling recent research from a multitude of sources, summarizing where research now stands on being able to identify the earliest stage (prodrome) of schizophrenia using "biological markers" in order to possibly treat the disease earlier and therefore have a better outcome. The authors say that:

The goal is to use biological markers to determine who is at risk for schizophrenia, to prevent the onset of schizophrenia in persons with prodromal symptoms, and, via early diagnosis and intervention, to reduce the severity of the illness in those who have schizophrenia.

Biological markers, also referred to as biomarkers, are objective, measurable aspects that can identify individuals as being at a greater risk of developing the disease. Often, these biomarkers are found in non-diseased first-degree relatives of patients with the disease. It is believed that although some biomarkers are a risk factor for developing the disease, others may be abnormalities associated with the disease, while still others are part of the expression of the disease itself.

There are many biomarkers already known about, ranging from genetic ones, to physical and cognitive developmental ones, ones seen in neuroimaging, and even differences in neurochemicals. But, as the authors say, “Discovering ways to put findings into practice will be the challenge in the future…”

Read the full article: Biological Markers and the Future of Early Diagnosis and Treatment in Schizophrenia

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