Scientists find gene mutation for schizophrenia

The first genetic mutation for schizophrenia has been found.

German scientists have identified it as the cause of a particular version of the illness.

It's already being described as possibly one of the most important discoveries in modern medicine.

The altered gene can contribute to catatonic schizophrenia and has been discovered at the Julius-Maximilians-University of Wuerzburg, Germany.

People with catatonic schizophrenia suffer severe psychotic episodes, hallucinations, delusions and disturbed body movement.

The discovery, published in Molecular Psychiatry, may make the search for a treatment more successful.