The relevance of synaptic plasticity to schizophrenia has been mentioned in this work and in many others. However, the mechanisms of neuronal plasticity have not been used to conceptualize a theoretical framework suggesting exactly in what way it is relevant to the development and maintenance of mental disorders. I have recently published two theoretical papers toward this goal, attempting furthermore to show its relevancy to a novel psychiatric diagnosis. See also www.brainoptimizers.org.
References:
Peled A. Brain profiling and clinical neuroscience. Medical Hypothesis 2006 May 12; [Epub ahead of print] Abstract
Peled A. Plasticity imbalance in mental disorders the neuroscience of psychiatry: Implications for diagnosis and research. Medical Hypothesis 2005 July 1. Abstract