In a disorder characterized by heterogeneity, a risk variant at ZNF804A seems to delineate a patient subgroup characterized by relatively spared cognitive ability. Further work is required to establish whether this represents a discrete molecular pathogenesis that differs from that of other patient groups and whether this also has consequences for nosologic classification, illness course, or treatment.

A novel phenotyping strategy in schizophrenia, targeting different neurocognitive domains, neurobehavioral features, and selected personality traits, has allowed us to identify a homogeneous familial subtype of the disease, characterized by pervasive neurocognitive deficit. Our genome scan data indicate that this subtype, which accounts for up to 50% of our sample, has a distinct genetic basis and explains linkage to chromosome 6p24 reported previously. If representative of other populations, the ratio of schizophrenia subtypes observed in our families could have a profound impact on sample heterogeneity and on the power of genetic studies to detect linkage and association. Our proposed abbreviated battery of tests should facilitate phenotype characterization for future genetic analyses and allow a focus on a crisply defined schizophrenia subtype, thus promoting a more informed search for susceptibility genes.

An increase of exclusive left-handedness is at variance with the prevailing assertion that the handedness shift in schizophrenia patients is because of a diffuse and bilateral hemispheric insult.

Objective: Coronavirus (COVID-19) has led to high levels of psychological distress in the community. This study aimed to examine whether emergency departments (EDs) also recorded a rise in mental health presentations. Method: Changes in the number, and type, of mental health presentations to Western Australia EDs were examined between January and May 2020, and compared to 2019. Results: Data showed an unexpected decrease in the number of mental health presentations, compared to 2019, which was temporally coincident with the rise in local COVID-19 cases. Presentations for anxiety and panic symptoms, and social and behavioural issues, increased by 11.1% and 6.5%, respectively, but suicidal and self-harm behaviours decreased by 26%. Conclusion: A rise in local COVID-19 cases was associated with a decrease in mental health presentations to EDs. This has important implications for the planning and provision of healthcare services in the current pandemic.