Déficit en el procesamiento auditivo subcortical en pacientes esquizofrénicos. Revisión sobre posibles biomarcadores neurofisiológicos

Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder affecting approximately 1% of the population. It may sometimes be difficult to diagnose because the diagnostic criteria are complex and the symptoms may present themselves in a wide variety of manners in clinical practice. Therefore, there is a great need for a valid and reliable diagnostic tool to aid clinicians in arriving at the diagnoses in a timely and accurate manner. Previous studies have suggested that patients suffering from schizophrenia may process certain sound stimuli in the brainstem in an unusual manner. However, despite the abundant neurophysiological evidence of auditory system dysfunction, results are still equivocal. In this review, previously published neurophysiological findings in this field are analysed, as well as the possible causes for discrepancies. Finally, future techniques and the impact they could have on clinical practice, if validated, are also analysed.