| الوصف: |
Epidemiological research into schizophrenia has a long and productive history over many decades, since the formulation of the disease concept by Emil Kraepelin in 1896. As a critical counterpart to clinical and biological research, its focus is on the population frequency and distribution of incidence, prevalence, course, and outcome, and the associated risk factors. This chapter presents an overview of the historical landmarks of the epidemiology of schizophrenia, its progress over the years, and the state of current knowledge. It highlights the challenges for its future directions of this research, including the question of whether primary or secondary prevention of the disorder will eventually be possible. The unprecedented growth of basic knowledge about the brain and the human genome opens up novel perspectives in the study of complex disorders, such as schizophrenia, which integrate concepts and tools of genetics, neuroscience, and epidemiology. |