[Schizotaxia--theoretical construct or a tool for clinical research?].

From Kretschmer's trials binding personality traits with risk of psychoses have been described in literature. Still there is lack of one theory linking genetic factors with schizophrenia. In 1962 Meehl, introducing the term "schizotaxia", had been trying to find an answer to such a question. He described schizotaxia as subtle neuronal integration deficit caused by a single genetic factor, which depending on conditions, can give schizotypy or schizophrenia. Actually, this theory has only historical meaning. Recently Tsuang and Faraone reformulated the concept of schizotaxia used in clinical studies. Preliminary results lead to a conclusion that presence of schizotaxia has a detrimental influence on social functioning, which is improving after neuroleptic therapy. Studies confirmed that the risk of schizophrenia in persons with schizotaxia was higher as compared to persons without such characteristics. It is supposed, that paying attention to traits of schizotaxia will improve the possibility of early diagnosis of schizophrenia.