SSRIs to cure schizophrenia?

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is found in the hippocampus, cortex and basal forebrain and is vital to learning, memory and higher thinking. Low levels have been linked with depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease and dementia. Mice born without brain-derived neurotrophic factor suffer developmental defects in the brain and the nervous system, and usually die soon after birth.

"We now know we have this window where we can reverse this disorder so we really need to start focusing on early intervention," she said. "People at risk need to start taking antidepressants as early as possible."

And though we might all bemoan the zombification of the body politic through a liberal application of SSRIs, in this case it looks as though it could prevent a great deal of human suffering.