The neurobiological underpinnings of risk and conversion in relatives of patients with schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is associated with deficits in many domains of cognitive function, along with structural and functional brain abnormalities, most notably in prefrontal and temporal lobes. In recent years, a number of research groups have turned to the study of relatives of affected individuals with the aim of determining if similar cognitive deficits and brain abnormalities are also found in those with increased genetic vulnerability to the disorder. In this article studies on such individuals are discussed. It is concluded that deficits are generally apparent in relatives, which are similar to but less marked than those seen in patients with schizophrenia. The literature on predictors of conversion in people at genetic high risk is much smaller, but suggests a combination of baseline trait severity and further change in key measures.