ABSTRACT
There has been considerable recent research and clinical interest in early
intervention in schizophrenia, underpinned by the idea that the earlier the
intervention, the better the potential outcome. This begs the question as to
how early is early, as it is clear that many people with schizophrenia have
longstanding (probably largely inherited) brain vulnerabilities which mani-
fest in non-specific ways until the evolution of frank psychotic symptoms.
This vulnerability may undergo transition through a phase of nonspecific
