Schizophrenia Flashcards
Prodromal phase
Deterioration in their level of functioning without being psychotic. May have negative sx and sleep problems
Active phase
Psychotic; disorganized
Residual phase
Without severe psychotic sx
Types of schizophrenia
Catatonic : movement disorder
Disorganized : thought disorder
Paranoid : paranoid delusions
Mesolimbic pathway
Deals with positive sx
Mesocortical pathway
Deals with negative sx
Nigrostriatal pathway
Extrapyramidal effects
Neurochemistry of Schizophrenia
Dysregulation-hyperactivation of dopamine. Increased density of dopamine receptors in the caudate and putamen
Dysregulation low levels of glutamate receptors
Dopamine model
Over activation of D2 receptors of mesolimbic pathway: VTA to NA
Antipsychotic drugs block the postaynaptic D2 receptors in the mesolimbic pathway
Drugs that increase dopamine activity (amphetamines) produce similar/positive sx
Glutamate model
NMDA blockers induces negativism and apathy in addition to disorganized thinking
Glutamate neurons interconnect the four main areas abnormal in schizophrenia (prefrontal, mesolimbic, striatum/NA, medial temporal lobe)
Low levels of glutamate correlate with overactive dopamine
Dopamine hyperactivity May be a secondary phenomenon
Dis connectivity hypothesis
Role of PRefrontal lobe in negative sx and control and inhibition of other areas of the brain
Disrupted anatomical connections in the frontolimbic circuitry even at the early stages
Synaptic pruning