PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS: SCHIZOPHRENIA Flashcards
primarily affects thought and behaviour and may
cause people to hear voices, see imaginary things (hallucinations) or
believe that others are controlling their thoughts
(delusions/paranoia)
• Schizophrenia
SK onset occurs primarily between the ages of _____ and tends to be earlier in men than in women.
18-25
s/s of SK
delusions/paranoia
hallucinations
Negative symptoms
Absence of normal behavior
SK socially withdrawn, apathy, etc
SK likely has?
Genetic component
Incidence increases if you have a sibling with schizophrenia, 8%; one
parent, 12%, both parents 39% and 60-80% for monozygotic twins
SK diagnosis
Delusions Halluc Catatonic Behavior Disorg speech Negative symptoms
Requires 2+ of above w/ 1 positive symptom for at least 6 months
SK has ↑ size of
Lateral Ventricle
Brain regions functionally and/or structurally affected in
schizophrenia MRI study
↓ Gray/ white matter/ brain volume
↓ Hippocampus, thalamus, amygdala, accumbens
↑ Ventricular volume
*MRI: possible other causes, maybe not SK etiology
Neurocognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia
- Episodic memory
- Reward and Salience
- Emotional regulation
- Social cognition
DLPFC Neurocognitive dysfunction constantly observed
Changes in Dorso-Lateral- Prefrontal cortex
Neuropathological Findings of SK
*↓ size and packing density of pyramidal neurons in the prefrontal cortex
- ↓ GABA interneuron proteins and neuronal function in layer III DLPFC
- ↓ dendritic spines and presynaptic axonal inputs
Genes in all three paths contributes to the disorder
Neuropathological Findings of SK
↓ dendritic spines and ______ inputs
presynaptic axonal
Neuropathological Findings of SK
↓ GABA interneuron proteins and neuronal function in ______
layer III DLPFC
Neuropathological Findings of SK
↓ size and packing density of ________ in the prefrontal cortex
pyramidal neurons
Hyperactivity of dopamine in the Mesolimbic system and Hypoactivity dopamine in the
Mesocortical system.
Dopamine Theory
