Autonomic nervous system characteristics possibly related to a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to review the available evidence on what, if any, aspects of autonomic nervous system (ANS) functioning might be related to a genetic predisposition for schizophrenia. The review will necessarily attempt to determine those ANS characteristics that distinguish individuals who are more vulnerable to schizophrenia on a statistical basis than the general population and those that may be predictive of schizophrenic psychopathology at a future date. If a specific pattern of ANS functioning can be found reliably to distinguish persons who later become schizophrenic from those who do not, it can be used as a selective factor for studies of vulnerable children. Such knowledge can aid in the understanding of the biological substrate of schizophrenia. Since the studies of Kety and Rosenthal have shown beyond a reasonable doubt that genetic factors are involved in the etiology of schizophrenia, one can ask next how this genetic factor is expressed. Current biochemical theorizing in schizophrenia is heavily focused on the catecholamines. Since catecholaminergic neurons have an important role in control of the ANS, the study of premorbid autonomic functioning might provide important clues to the operation of this system in the development of schizophrenia. Disturbances of ANS functioning might be more or less directly involved in the development of cognitive, attentional, or other aspects of schizophrenic symptomatology.