Schizophrenia Flashcards
What is the normal age for onset of schizophrenia?
Men 20-28 years
Women 26-32 years
What evidence is there for physiological changes in schizophrenia?
Evidence seen in identical twins, only one of whom presented with symptoms
Dilated ventricles in disease potentially due to loss of brain tissue
Give examples of positive symptoms of schizophrenia.
Delusions
Hallucinations
Disorganised
Give examples of negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
Reduced motion
Lack of motivation/interest
Reduced pleasure
Thought and speech
Give examples of cognitive deficits of schizophrenia.
Attention
Working and verbal memory executive function
Give examples of mood symptoms of schizophrenia.
Depression
Anxiety
Hostility/aggression
Suicide
Positive schizophrenic symptoms are associated with malfunctioning of which brain circuits?
Mesolimbic and striatal
Negative schizophrenic symptoms are associated with malfunctioning of which brain circuits?
Mesocortical/prefrontal cortex
Nucleus accumbens reward circuits
Cognitive schizophrenic symptoms are associated with malfunctioning of which brain circuits?
Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
Aggressive schizophrenic symptoms are associated with malfunctioning of which brain circuits?
Orbitofrontal cortex
Amygdala
Affective (mood) schizophrenic symptoms are associated with malfunctioning of which brain circuits?
Ventromedial prefrontal cortex
What criteria of the DSM-V must be met for schizophrenia diagnosis?
At least two of delusions, hallucinations, disorganised speech, grossly disorganised behaviour, negative symptoms
Social/occupational dysfunction
Duration of at least 6 months
Describe the action of antipsychotics.
Inhibit D2 receptors
Competes with dopamine to occupy the receptors thus preventing dopamine from acting on all receptors, thus controlling positive symptoms
Does not manage high concentration of dopamine, thus stopping medication will mean reoccurrence of psychotic symptoms
Describe the glutamate theory of schizophrenia.
GABA inhibits NMDA receptors, which also respond to glutamate, leading to further receptor activation and GABA function
Glutamate activation of dopamine cell bodies where GABA is not active, leading to too much dopamine thus psychosis
Describe the action of phencyclidine.
NMDA antagonist
Renders NMDA receptors hypo functional leading to disinhibition of pyramidal cell
Patients as a result experience positive symptoms as well as affective symptoms
Describe the dopamine theory of schizophrenia.
Increased dopamine in subcortical pathways leading to psychotic symptoms
Give examples of atypical antipsychotics.
Clozapine
Olanzapine
Risperidone
Give examples of typical antipsychotics.
Haloperidol
Chlorpromazine
Describe the action of typical antipsychotics.
High affinity for D2 receptors
Effective against positive symptoms
Cause motor control impairments due to increased blockade of D2
Less side effects potentially due to less rich pharmacology
Describe the action of atypical antipsychotics.
Higher affinity for serotonin than D2 receptors
Potentially improved efficacy against negative symptoms
Rich pharmacology means significant side effects
Less motor impairment
What are the significant side effects of atypical antipsychotics?
Weight gain
Metabolic syndrome
Agranulocytosis
When is clozapine shown to do best efficacy?
Treatment resistant schizophrenia
What is the efficacy threshold for D2 receptor occupancy?
65% occupancy
The more D2 receptors blocked, the increased likelihood of EPSEs