18. Schizophrenia 2 Flashcards
What does the dopamine hypothesis believe? (Schizophrenia 2 B&B)
Schizophrenia is caused by abnormalities in dopamine functioning in the brain
How does the dopamine hypothesis suggest positive symptoms be caused? (Schizophrenia 2 B&B)
Over activity in the mesolyombic system
How does the dopamine hypothesis suggest negative and cognitive systems can be caused? (Schizophrenia 2 B&B)
Under activity in the mesocortical system
What can produce the same effects as positive systems? (Schizophrenia 2 B&B)
Agonist drugs
What do all antipsychotic drugs have in common? (Schizophrenia 2 B&B)
Block D2 receptors
What are the long term impact of antipsychotic drugs? (Schizophrenia 2 B&B)
- Resembles those of Parkinson’s disease
- Tardive dyskinesia (inability to stop moving)
What are the benefits of atypical antipsychotic drugs? (Schizophrenia 2 B&B)
- No extrapyramidal side effects (lower affinity of D2 receptors)
- For example, clozapine is the first drug to reduce suicide rates
What does the glutamate hypothesis believe? (Schizophrenia 2 B&B)
NMDA glutamate receptors are responsible for schizophrenia
Why is glutamate seen as responsible for schizophrenia according to the glutamate hypothesis? (Schizophrenia 2 B&B)
Glutamate is a major excitatory neurotransmitter
How do mutations in the NMDA glutamate receptor subunits cause mutations? (Schizophrenia 2 B&B)
- GRIN1 gene (codes for NR1 NMDA receptor subunit)
- GRIN2A gene (codes for NR2A NMDA receptor subunit)
What can phyncycidine and ketamine cause? (Schizophrenia 2 B&B)
Positive, cognitive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia
What are phyncycidine and ketamine a type of? (Schizophrenia 2 B&B)
NMDA receptor antagonists
What does the neuroinflammatory hypothesis believe? (Schizophrenia 2 B&B)
The brains immune cells are hyperactive in those developing schizophrenia
What is the basis of evidence for the neuroinflammatory hypothesis? (Schizophrenia 2 B&B)
PET imaging shows step wise elevation of microglial activity (as severity of illness increases, as does the activity)
What are microglia and what do they do? (Schizophrenia 2 B&B)
- Small glia cells
- Survey the brain for pathogens or debris
