Ipotesi eziologiche ancora attuali nel campo dei disturbi mentali = Current hypothesis on the etiology of mental disorders

Introduction: Schizophrenia and related psychiatric disorders are diseases with unknown origin. Family and adoption studies indicate a strong genetic component of disease susceptibility. However, epidemiological studies also point to a role for infections and other environmental factors in the etiology of this complex disease. In particular, many studies support the hypothesis that the exposure to infective agents, such as bacteria and viruses, may be a risk factor for the development of mental disorders. Materials and methods: In this brief review we will at first describe the viral agents that can be directly, and by different means, associated with mental illness. Then, the scientific literature which has focused on the association between schizophrenia and the most relevant etiopathogentic hypothesis will be analyzed and discussed. Conclusions: All data analyzed suggest the presence of elements in favor of the involvement of viruses in the pathogenesis of some mental diseases. However, there are no definitive data and it will be necessary to define multicenter research projects, in order to verify, by means of advanced technologies, these interesting theories.