Schizophrenia etiology theories

In this chapter, we will review the evidence suggesting a role for specific synaptic vesicle-associated proteins in schizophrenia. First, we present a brief overview of the synaptic vesicle cycle in the broader context of synaptic neurotransmission at chemical synapses. We then describe the experimental evidence linking specific molecular components of the synaptic vesicle to schizophrenia. Since not all synaptic vesicle proteins have been studied in relationship to schizophrenia, this review focuses only on those proteins for which such an effort was made. Finally, we describe the potential roles these proteins could play in the context of current etiological theories of schizophrenia, and discuss the relevance of the experimental findings in the context of this enigmatic disorder. 

What potential roles could synaptic vesicle associated proteins have in the context of two major theories regarding the etiology of schizophrenia, namely the synaptic hypothesis and the neurodevelopmental hypothesis ... 

Over the centuries, there have been a multitude of theories about the etiology of schizophrenia. These have ranged from religious, social, and psychological theories to more recent biological theories. 

There are currently two dominant theories as to the etiology of schizophrenia. The most popular postulates abnormal neurotransmitter receptor function within the brain and, to a large extent, concentrates on studying dopamine and serotonin. Although this theory still provides psychiatry with its best tools for dealing with psychosis, namely medications, it has proved sterile ground for developing radical new treatment approaches. 

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