Evolutionary theories of schizophrenia

Abstract

The universal distribution of schizophrenia associated with the low fertility of these patients outlines the paradox: why doesn’t diminish the prevalence of this dysfunction? A critical revision is made of the main hypotheses that have thought about to solve this question. Some theories have postulated a physiologic or social advantage. Others have analysed this illness from the mark of the Evolutionary Psychology. We stand out the theories that have looked for an association of a Darwinian approach with genetic or neurodevelopmental data. Finally a possibility of integration of the evolutionary and neuropsychological models is proposed.