schizo-, schiz-

Said of birds having a single, slit-like, bony nostril opening and in which the anterior border of the nasal bones is deeply cleft.

A subtle syndrome of brain dysfunction expressed, in part, as negative symptoms and neuropsychological deficits, but not as psychosis.

This syndrome is qualitatively similar, yet less severe, than that observed in schizophrenia patients.

All individuals with schizotaxia develop a personality structure, called the schizotype. Schizotype is characterized by four traits: cognitive slippage (mild thought disorder), social aversiveness, anhedonia, and ambivalence. It is thought that only a minority of schizotypal individuals decompensate into clinical schizophrenia.

The treatment of schizotaxia may benefit from methods effective in the psychotherapy of other neurodevelopmental conditions (Adult ADHD) which share some clinical features with schizotaxia.

No longer is schizotaxia considered as a theoretical construct describing the unknown neural substrate of schizophrenia, but the accumulation of research has revealed schizotaxia to be a clinically consequential condition.

Looking forward, formulating a diagnostic criteria for schizotaxia, devising diagnostic methods like genetic testing, and implementing environmental and pharmacological interventions are expected to help in the primary prevention of schizophrenia in the future.

1. A mild form of schizophrenia: an introverted psychiatric condition that resembles a mild form of schizophrenia.
2. Resembling schizophrenia but remaining within the bounds of normality.

Tending toward an introverted temperament that while remaining within the bounds of normality still somewhat resembles schizophrenia.

A schizoid tendency remaining within the bounds of normality.

A splitting of the hairs at their ends.

1. Referring to actual, or potential, borderline schizophrenia; a condition characterized by cold aloof feelings, eccentric behavior, hallucinations, illusions, and delusions.
2. Characterized by, exhibiting, or being patterns of thought, perception, communication, and behavior suggestive of schizophrenia but not of sufficient severity to warrant a diagnosis that it is schizophrenia.