ABSTRACT
Schizophrenia (M IM 181500) is a severe and common psychiatric disorder afflicting 1% of the world popu lation. The disease is characterized by psychotic symp toms and by cognitive, affective, and psychosocial im pairm ent. As a leading cause of psychiatric admissions, schizophrenia accounts for a considerable portion of health-care expenditures and is viewed as a m ajor public health concern.
