Schizophrenia Flashcards
How much of the population does schizophrenia affect?
β 1%
What gender is affected more?
β men are more affected
What are positive symptoms in schizophrenia?
β increase in abnormal behaviour in addition to normal behaviour
What are negative symptoms in schizophrenia?
β absence of normal behaviour
What are cognitive symptoms in schizophrenia?
β problems with thought processes
What are examples of positive symptoms?
β hallucinations
β delusions
β disorganised thought/speech
β movement disorders
What are examples of negative symptoms?
β social withdrawal β anhedonia β lack of motivation β poverty of speech β emotional flatness
What are examples of cognitive symptoms?
β impaired working memory
β impaired attention
β impaired comprehension
How long must symptoms last for?
β 6 months
If an identical twin has schizophrenia what is the likelihood of the other twin having it?
β 50%
What are 3 candidate genes for schizophrenia?
β COMT
β DISC1
β GRM3
What are 4 pregnancy complications that can lead to schizophrenia?
β low birth weight
β premature birth
β asphyxia
β influenza
What are the 4 types of stress that can contribute to schizophrenia?
β moving country
β bereavement
β loss of job/home/relationship
β physical/emotional/sexual abuse
What kind of drug use can contribute?
β cannabis
β amphetamine
β cocaine
β LSD
What is the evidence for the dopamine hypothesis for schizophrenia?
β DA is only released in mesocortical and mesolimbic not nigrostriatal
β D2 agonists produce stereotyped behavior
β Reserpine depletes DA and controls +ve symptoms
β antagonist of the D2 receptor has antipsychotic effects
β Amphetamine increases DA release in schizophrenics which makes the disease worse
What is the evidence against the dopamine hypothesis?
β No change in DA receptors in drug free patients
β No change in CSF HVA concentration
What are the 3 structural differences in schizophrenic brains?
β brain is slightly smaller
β grey matter is reduced
β enlarged ventricles and smaller hippocampus
What are the 6 reasons that contribute to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia?
β Dopamine hypothesis β Brain structure differences β Hypofrontality β NMDA receptor hypofunction β Oxidative Stress
WHat is hypofrontality?
β Reduced blood flow to the frontal cortex β reduced activity
What is the evidence for the glutamate hypothesis?
β NMDA antagonists (PCP and ketamine) cause hallucinations and psychotic symptoms
β Decreased glutamate receptor density in the prefrontal cortex
β transgenic mice have decreased NMDA receptors and have decreased social interactions