Hermens Daniel F, Lubman Dan I, Ward Philip B, Naismith Sharon L, Hickie Ian B
Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW.
Med J Aust. 2009 Feb 16;190(S4):S22-5. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2009.tb02370.x.
The aetiology of schizophrenia remains complex, although proposed models have identified genetic markers and environmental pathogens as important risk factors. Researchers have found no large-effect or unique genetic elements, and only a small number of putative environmental agents have been identified. Use of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATSs) is an exemplar environmental pathogen, as it is known to trigger schizophrenia-like illness and other psychotic and manic episodes. To date, the ATS model of illness onset has been under-utilised. It has the potential to reveal key neurobiological elements of schizophrenia and related psychoses. The model proposed here has the capacity to inform detection of those at risk of ATS-related psychoses, and therefore help develop early intervention strategies. It is possible that the same approach may be used in young people known to be at risk of schizophrenia and related disorders, by informing models that involve other environmental or genetic risks.
精神分裂症的病因仍然很复杂，尽管提出的模型已将基因标记和环境病原体确定为重要风险因素。研究人员尚未发现具有显著影响或独特的基因元件，并且仅确定了少数假定的环境因素。使用苯丙胺类兴奋剂（ATS）就是一个典型的环境病原体例子，因为已知它会引发精神分裂症样疾病以及其他精神病性和躁狂发作。迄今为止，ATS发病模型尚未得到充分利用。它有潜力揭示精神分裂症和相关精神病的关键神经生物学要素。这里提出的模型能够为检测有患ATS相关精神病风险的人提供信息，从而有助于制定早期干预策略。通过为涉及其他环境或基因风险的模型提供信息，有可能将同样的方法应用于已知有患精神分裂症及相关疾病风险的年轻人。
