Mental Health conditions

Question 1

Explain what the core symptoms of schizophrenia are

Answer 1

Positive Symptoms: Include hallucinations (often auditory), delusions, and disorganized thinking or speech.

Negative Symptoms: Involve reduced emotional expression, lack of motivation (avolition), diminished ability to experience pleasure
(anhedonia), and social withdrawal.

Cognitive Symptoms: Affect attention, memory, and executive functioning, impacting daily functioning and decision-making.

Question 2

What pathway are the positive symptoms of schizophrenia linked to

Answer 2

MESOLIMBIC PATHWAY
This pathway is critically involved in reward processing, motivation, and emotional regulation. In schizophrenia, dysregulation of the mesolimbic pathway, particularly an overactivity of dopamine transmission, is associated with positive symptoms.

Question 3

What pathway are the negative symptoms of schizophrenia linked to

Answer 3

This pathway plays a crucial role in higher cognitive functions, including executive function, working memory, and decision-making. In schizophrenia, the mesocortical pathway often exhibits reduced dopamine activity, which is linked to negative and cognitive symptoms.

Question 4

What role does “Glutamate” play in schizophrenia?

Answer 4

Glutamate, the brain’s primary excitatory neurotransmitter.

Basically makes positive & negative symptoms so much more!!

Question 5

Explain what bipolar disorder is

Answer 5

Mood disorder

Characterised by periods of mania then depression

Question 6

Outline the pathophysiology of the symptoms of bipolar disorder

Answer 6

MANIA (excess excitement, racing thoughts, grandiose, elevated HR, BP)
DEPRESSION (low mood, sad, anhedonia, guilt, tired, slower)

Question 7

What’s happening in the body during a manic episode of Bipolar disorder

Answer 7

Neurotransmitter Imbalance: Increased activity of neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine.

Neuroendocrine Dysregulation: Altered levels of stress hormones (e.g., cortisol) and thyroid hormones.

Neuroplasticity Changes: Enhanced synaptic plasticity and disrupted brain circuit functioning.

Question 8

What’s happening in the body during a depressive episode of Bipolar disorder

Answer 8

Neurotransmitter Deficiency: Reduced levels of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine.

Neuroendocrine Dysfunction: Imbalance in stress-related hormones and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation.

Neuroplasticity Impairments: Decreased synaptic plasticity and structural changes in brain regions like the hippocampus.

Question 9

What role does “Glutamate” play in bipolar disorder?

Answer 9

glutamate’s role in bipolar disorder involves its effects on neurotransmission, brain plasticity, and mood regulation, contributing to the disorder’s characteristic mood episodes.

Question 10

Explain the genetic cause for schizophrenia

Answer 10

1. Loss of one gene on chromosome 22 has been proven to be linked to raising the risk of developing schizophrenia by 2500%
2. Twin studies show that if one twin has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, then the 2nd twin is 60% more likely to develop schizophrenia.