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Schizophrenia Bulletin 2003 29(3):405-412;
© 2003 by Oxford University Press and the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center (MPRC)
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© Oxford University Press

At Issue: Assessment of Schizophrenia: Getting Closer to the Cause

Heather M. Conklin, M.A. and William G. Iacono, Ph.D.
A graduate student in clinical psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN
Distinguished McKnight University Professor and Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN

Send reprint requests to Dr. W.G. Iacono, Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, 75 East River Road, Minneapolis, MN 55455; e-mail: wiacono{at}tfs.psych.umn.edu

Traditionally, the diagnosis of schizophrenia has depended on the presence of specific behavioral phenomena assessed by way of behavioral observation and patient symptomatic report. Even though the introduction of explicit diagnostic criteria and structured interviews has improved the reliability of schizophrenia diagnosis, it is still unclear how best to define schizophrenia in order to further etiologic research. This situation persists despite ample evidence that schizophrenia is a heritable brain disorder and the existence of laboratory measures that tap into this neurobiological genetic diathesis. We contend that such laboratory measures can be used to supplement traditional clinical assessment in order to improve the definition of schizophrenia, thereby enhancing research into schizophrenia's origins. Ultimately, this increased understanding of the disorder's etiology should facilitate the development of targeted therapeutic interventions.

Keywords: Assessment / reliability / validity / etiology / diathesis / endophenotype


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