Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia

Question 1

Mesolimbic dopamine

Answer 1

Overactive mesolimbic dopamine circuits bring positive symptoms of schizophrenia

Question 2

Effects of dopamine agonists/antagonists

Answer 2

Decrease positive symptoms
L-Dopa is a major one

Question 3

Consequences of long-term drug treatment of positive symptoms

Answer 3

Medications for schizophrenia reduce dopamine transmission
Parkinsonian symptoms
Tardive dyskinesia (unable to stop moving)

Question 4

Mesocortical dopamine

Answer 4

Mesocortical pathway ends in frontal cortex
Decreased activity of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) brings negative symptoms
dlPFC may also impact positive symptoms indirectly
Mediated by DISC1 gene during development

Question 5

Glutamate hypothesis

Answer 5

PCP and ketamine decrease dopamine activity by reducing glutamate
Reduce dopamine activity of frontal lobes, increase in positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms