What is the current state of science? | Is schizophrenia curable?

What is the current state of science?

The state of science on the disease of schizophrenia is very mixed. For example, there are areas that are now very well researched, such as prognosis parameters. However, there is still a long way to go in researching the exact origin of the disease.

Although it is now understood that the disease is a multifactorial development, it is unclear which factors play a role and to what extent. However, the focus of basic research is currently on the genetic basis of the disease, as this is the one that is most influenced. However, clearly defined mutations that lead to schizophrenia have not yet been identified.

It is important to note that schizophrenia is not assumed to have a direct link between genetic modification and the occurrence of a disease, as is the case with other diseases such as trisomy 21. Rather, the current consensus is that many different mutations can lead to an increased susceptibility to the development of schizophrenia. However, other external factors, such as stress, are necessary for the development of schizophrenia to occur, so that the disease can eventually break out.

Therefore, genetic changes are only referred to as an increase in risk. In recent years there has been only limited progress in therapy, apart from the introduction of atypical antipsychotics. However, this is also due to the fact that the origin of the disease is not yet understood, since no more precise starting points for a new therapy are known. Thus, it can be summarized that in recent years, progress has been made in research on schizophrenia, but a comprehensive understanding of the disease is still a long way off.