Cited by 864Schizophrenia research and treatmentMental Health and PsychiatryNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

Schizophrenia: an integrated sociodevelopmental-cognitive model

Open access
Howes, Oliver D, Murray, Robin M·2014·The Lancet

Abstract

Schizophrenia remains a major burden on patients and society. The dopamine hypothesis attempts to explain the pathogenic mechanisms of the disorder, and the neurodevelopmental hypothesis the origins. In the past 10 years an alternative, the cognitive model, has gained popularity. However, the first two theories have not been satisfactorily integrated, and the most influential iteration of the cognitive model makes no mention of dopamine, neurodevelopment, or indeed the brain. In this Review we show that developmental alterations secondary to variant genes, early hazards to the brain, and childhood adversity sensitise the dopamine system, and result in excessive presynaptic dopamine synthesis and release. Social adversity biases the cognitive schema that the individual uses to interpret experiences towards paranoid interpretations. Subsequent stress results in dysregulated dopamine release, causing the misattribution of salience to stimuli, which are then misinterpreted by the biased cognitive processes. The resulting paranoia and hallucinations in turn cause further stress, and eventually repeated dopamine dysregulation hardwires the psychotic beliefs. Finally, we consider the implications of this model for understanding and treatment of schizophrenia.

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Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/s0140-6736(13)62036-x

Cites

137 of 137 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • The demographic factors are likely to drive the groups' appraisals of their psychotic experiences and environments.

    “These factors are likely to drive the groups' appraisals of their psychotic experiences and their environments, as would be predicted by biopsychosocial models of psychosis.7, 8”

    From Clinical relevance of appraisals of persistent psychotic experiences in people with and without a need for care: an experimental study (2017) · cites this paper as [7]

    The ‘Cognitive theories and their link to dopaminergic dysfunction’ section says social adversity can bias schemas through which people interpret their experiences and see the world as threatening. The integrated-model section likewise links social adversity to psychotic interpretations. These passages support a prediction about appraisals, but do not establish that the citing paper’s demographic factors drive differences between its groups. (LLM, conf=0.82)

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  • The study's results support biopsychosocial models that emphasize the importance of environmental and psychological factors in the aetiology of psychosis and need for care.

    “These results support biopsychosocial models 21,22,37 that emphasize the importance of environmental and psychological factors in the aetiology of psychosis and need for care.”

    From Clinical, socio‐demographic and psychological characteristics in individuals with persistent psychotic experiences with and without a “need for care” (2016) · cites this paper as [22]

    The Abstract and the ‘Cognitive theories and their link to dopaminergic dysfunction’ section describe how social adversity, stress, and cognitive processes contribute to psychosis. The ‘Implications and future directions’ section discusses psychological and social interventions, but the passages do not establish that these factors determine a need for care. (LLM, conf=0.83)

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  • Stress-vulnerability and integrated cognitive models posit a role for social, environmental and psychological factors in the aetiology of psychosis, in addition to genetic and neurodevelopmental features such as a family history of psychosis and low IQ.

    “Stress-vulnerability and integrated cognitive models 21,22 posit a role for social, environmental and psychological factors in the aetiology of psychosis, in addition to genetic and neurodevelopmental features such as a family history of psychosis and low intelligence quotient (IQ).”
  • Persistent psychotic experiences only become problematic in the context of pre-existent vulnerabilities.

    “it is likely that persistent PEs only become problematic in the context of pre-existent vulnerabilities, as suggested by contemporary aetiological models of psychosis 21,22,37”
  • Adverse experiences may increase the likelihood of developing psychosis in two ways: early adversity could increase the persecutory content of predictions, and adversity is often stressful and stress sensitises the dopamine system.

    “Adverse experiences may increase the likelihood of developing psychosis in two ways. First, early adversity could increase the persecutory content of predictions(68, 105). Second, adversity is often stressful, and as reported above, there is evidence that stress sensitises the dopamine system(118). This could result in higher presynaptic dopamine synthesis and release capacity(123).”

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Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 11

  1. [12]Howes OD Kambeitz J Kim E The Nature of Dopamine Dysfunction in Schizophrenia and What This Means for Treatment: Meta-analysis of Imaging Studies Arch Gen Psychiatry 2012 69 8 776 86 22474070 PMC3730746
  2. [13]Chen KC Yang YK Howes O Striatal dopamine transporter availability in drug-naive patients with schizophrenia: a case-control SPECT study with [(99m)Tc]-TRODAT-1 and a meta-analysis Schizophrenia bulletin 2013 39 2 378 86 22156764 PMC3576153
  3. [14]Lyon GJ Abi-Dargham A Moore H Lieberman JA Javitch JA Sulzer D Presynaptic regulation of dopamine transmission in schizophrenia Schizophrenia bulletin 2011 37 1 108 17 19525353 PMC3004182
  4. [59]Lapiz MD Fulford A Muchimapura S Mason R Parker T Marsden CA Influence of postweaning social isolation in the rat on brain development, conditioned behavior, and neurotransmission Neurosci Behav Physiol 2003 33 1 13 29 12617300
  5. [74]Boileau I Dagher A Leyton M Modeling sensitization to stimulants in humans: an [11C]raclopride/positron emission tomography study in healthy men Arch Gen Psychiatry 2006 63 12 1386 95 17146013
  6. [76]Prasad BM Sorg BA Ulibarri C Kalivas PW Sensitization to stress and psychostimulants. Involvement of dopamine transmission versus the HPA axis Ann N Y Acad Sci 1995 771 617 25 8597435
  7. [98]Papaleo F Yang F Garcia S Dysbindin-1 modulates prefrontal cortical activity and schizophrenia-like behaviors via dopamine/D2 pathways Mol Psychiatry 2012 17 1 85 98 20956979 PMC3388848
  8. [113]Bentall RP Rowse G Shryane N The cognitive and affective structure of paranoid delusions: a transdiagnostic investigation of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and depression Arch Gen Psychiatry 2009 66 3 236 47 19255373
  9. [119]Rabinowicz EF Silipo G Goldman R Javitt DC Auditory sensory dysfunction in schizophrenia: imprecision or distractibility? Archives of general psychiatry 2000 57 12 1149 55 11115328
  10. [134]Ho BC Andreasen NC Ziebell S Pierson R Magnotta V Long-term antipsychotic treatment and brain volumes: a longitudinal study of first-episode schizophrenia Archives of general psychiatry 2011 68 2 128 37 21300943 PMC3476840
  11. [136]Marsman A van den Heuvel MP Klomp DW Kahn RS Luijten PR Hulshoff Pol HE Glutamate in schizophrenia: a focused review and meta-analysis of (1)H-MRS studies Schizophr Bull 2013 39 1 120 9 21746807 PMC3523901

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Authors
Howes, O. D., & Murray, R. M.
Affiliations
King's College London (GB)
Venue
The Lancet
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2014-05
Volume
383
Issue
9929
Pages
1677-1687
ISSN
  • 0099-5355 (ISSN-L)
  • 0140-6736
OpenAlex
W2146809691
Cited by
864
References
137
Citations by year
2026: 46 · 2025: 55 · 2024: 95 · 2023: 70 · 2022: 69 · 2021: 93 · 2020: 89 · 2019: 79 · 2018: 53 · 2017: 49 · 2016: 74 · 2015: 72 · 2014: 19
FWCI
7.50
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • The Lancet (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Medical Research Council UK (MC-A656–5QD30)
  • Wellcome Trust (094849/Z/10/Z)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Schizophrenia research and treatment
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Mental Health and Psychiatry
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
Keywords
schizophrenia, dopamine hypothesis, neurodevelopmental hypothesis, childhood adversity, genetic variants, dopamine dysregulation, hallucinations, stress, social adversity
MeSH terms
Brain, Cognition, Dopamine, Hallucinations, Humans, Paranoid Disorders, Schizophrenia, Social Environment

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