DGCR8 and schizophrenia: Dgcr8 deficiency in mice leads to downregulation of a subset of mature miRNAs, smaller dendritic spines, a simpler dendritic tree, alterations in synaptic properties, and cognitive and behavioral deficits.22,23 We found a DGCR8 downregulation in FEP compared to HCs and CHR, which may corroborate the association between 22q11 deletion and schizophrenia.