Neurobiological endophenotypes of psychosis and schizophrenia: Are there biological markers of illness onset?

Abstract

Introduction In this chapter, we describe neuropsychological, psychophysiological and brain imaging findings in the early stages of psychosis and schizophrenia, with a particular focus on the recent high-risk studies, and consider whether the evidence supports these as potential endophenotypic markers of illness. We argue that few potential markers meet criteria to be considered true endophenotypes of schizophrenia. Rather, the evidence supports the notion that there are a number of processes relevant to the onset of psychosis, which influence the phenotypic expression of the disorder at its different illness stages. Further, potential markers are non-specific and actively changing as the ps..