Lecture 2: Mental disorders – Dr. Eunchai Kang

Question 1

Definition of Mental Disorder

Answer 1

A mental disorder is characterized by a significant disturbance in cognition, emotional regulation, and behavior, reflecting dysfunction in processes underlying mental function.

Question 2

Distress, Dysfunction, and Deviance

Answer 2

Mental disorders involve distress, dysfunction, and deviance from typical behavior, impacting cognitive and emotional processes.

Question 3

Global Impact of Mental Health

Answer 3

Mental health issues contribute to disability, unemployment, substance abuse, homelessness, and poor quality of life, with a global cost projected to reach 6 trillion US dollars by 2030.

Question 4

Genetic Factors in Mental Disorders

Answer 4

No single gene can predict mental disorders, but well-researched genetic variations may contribute to a person’s risk to a small extent.

Question 5

Causes of Death and Heritability

Answer 5

Mental disorders have some level of heritability, and conditions like schizophrenia, contributing to death, show a correlation between genetic factors and environmental influences.

Question 6

Schizophrenia Symptoms

Answer 6

Symptoms include positive (delusions, hallucinations), negative (blunting, alogia, anhedonia), cognitive (attention, working memory), disorganized (speech, behavior), and affective (depression, anxiety).

Question 7

Dopamine Imbalance in Schizophrenia

Answer 7

Dopamine pathways (mesolimbic and mesocortical) are imbalanced in schizophrenia. Treatment involves D2 antagonists for positive symptoms and partial agonists like aripiprazole.

Question 8

Role of Glutamate in Schizophrenia

Answer 8

Reduced NMDA receptors in schizophrenia lead to altered excitatory-inhibitory balance. Disruption in NMDA receptors on GABAergic interneurons contributes to hyperstimulation.

Question 9

Neurodevelopmental Factors in Schizophrenia

Answer 9

Schizophrenia’s onset in late adolescence/early adulthood correlates with prefrontal cortex development. Reduced synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A (SV2A) indicates fewer synapses.

Question 10

Environmental Factors in Schizophrenia

Answer 10

Prenatal exposure to viral infections, poor nutrition, and cannabis smoking during adolescence increase the risk of schizophrenia. Epidemiological and twin studies highlight environmental factors.

Question 11

Genetic Factors and Twin Studies

Answer 11

Twin studies show a higher concordance rate in monozygotic twins compared to dizygotic twins, indicating a genetic component. Genome-wide associated studies identified 108 distinct loci.

Question 12

Limitations of Current Treatments

Answer 12

Current treatments for schizophrenia have limitations and side effects, highlighting the need for a better understanding of pathophysiology and potential targets.

Question 13

Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis

Answer 13

Adult hippocampal neurogenesis is implicated in cognitive and emotional functions. Alterations in this process are associated with conditions such as depression and anxiety disorders.

Question 13

Brain Organoids in Mental Health Research

Answer 13

Brain organoids serve as a valuable tool for studying disease-specific phenotypes, understanding disease mechanisms, drug screening, toxicology, and personalized medicine in mental health research.

Question 14

Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Cortical Development

Answer 14

Disruptions in embryonic cortical development are linked to neurodevelopmental disorders like schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders. Mice models are used for their well-characterized cortical development similar to humans.

Question 15

Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis Functions

Answer 15

Adult hippocampal neurogenesis involves the generation of new neurons in the hippocampus throughout life, contributing to cognitive function and emotional regulation.

Question 16

Impact of Adult Neurogenesis on Mental Disorders

Answer 16

Alterations in adult hippocampal neurogenesis are associated with mental disorders such as depression, anxiety disorders, and cognitive deficits, highlighting its relevance in mental health research.

Question 17

Disruptions in Embryonic Cortical Development

Answer 17

Disruptions in embryonic cortical development are linked to neurodevelopmental disorders like schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders, providing insights into molecular events and potential interventions.

Question 18

Mouse Models in Mental Health Research

Answer 18

Mice are utilized in mental health research due to their well-characterized cortical development, enabling the manipulation of specific genes involved in cortical development and the creation of models with mutations associated with disorders.

Question 19

In Vivo Imaging and Histological Analysis

Answer 19

In vivo imaging and histological analysis are employed to visualize cellular processes at different stages of development in mental health research, offering insights into the structural and functional changes associated with disorders.

Question 20

Genetic Factors and GWAS in Schizophrenia

Answer 20

Genome-wide associated studies (GWAS) analyzing genomes of individuals with schizophrenia identified 108 distinct loci, including genes related to dopamine neurotransmission, glutamatergic neurotransmission, and immunity.

Question 21

Environmental Factors and Mental Disorders

Answer 21

Environmental factors, including prenatal exposure to viral infections, poor nutrition, and cannabis smoking during adolescence, increase the risk of mental disorders, as indicated by epidemiological and twin studies.

Question 22

Neuroinflammation and Psychosis

Answer 22

Neuroinflammation, characterized by elevated pro-inflammatory proteins and increased microglial cells, is linked to psychosis and related disorders, providing a potential target for intervention

Question 23

Schizophrenia Symptoms and Criteria

Answer 23

Schizophrenia is diagnosed based on the presence of delusions, hallucinations, or catatonic behaviors persisting for six months. Positive, negative, cognitive, disorganized, and affective symptoms contribute to the criteria.

Question 24

Neural Communication and Microbiome in Schizophrenia

Answer 24

Patients with schizophrenia show abnormal synaptic communication across neurotransmitter systems. There is a correlation between the number of microbiome species in the oropharynx and lactic acid bacteria with schizophrenia.