Schizophrenia

Question 1

What is a positive symptom of schizophrenia and give three examples

Answer 1

Positive symptoms refers to symptoms that exist but should not
Ex: Delusions, Hallucinations, Illusions

Question 2

What is a negative symptom of schizophrenia and give three examples

Answer 2

Negative symptoms refer to symptoms that should exist however in this case they don’t
Ex: Alogia, Avolition, apathy, flat affect, anhedonia etc

Question 3

What are the risk factors for schizophrenia?

Answer 3

Stressors in prenatal period of the mother
Born during winter and spring(higher prevalence of viruses)
Maternal infection
Obstetrical complications which affects brain
Older parental age
Born in urban settings
First degree relatives
Cannabis use

Question 4

What is neurocognitive impairment in schizophrenia?

Answer 4

Several areas of cognitive function which may be impaired

Areas such as short and long term memory, vigilance, executive function, verbal fluency

Question 5

What are disorganized symptoms of schizophrenia?

Answer 5

Disturbances in thought processes which includes various types of delusions

Question 6

What kinds of changes in terms of neuroanatomical do you see in schizophrenia?

Answer 6

Enlargement of lateral and third ventricles
Reduction in frontal lobe, temporal lobe and whole brain volume
Diminished neuronal content in thalamus and hippocampus
Increased activity in limbus and globus pallidus
Increase density of D2 receptors

Question 7

True or false: In schizophrenia there is a decrease in lateral and third ventricles

Answer 7

False (enlargement)

Question 8

True or false: In schizophrenia there is an increased activity in limbic system and globus pallidus

Answer 8

True

Question 9

True or false: In schizophrenia there is an increase in frontal lobe, temporal lobe and whole brain volume

Answer 9

False (decrease)

Question 10

How does Hypofrontality affect schizophrenia?
*What parts of the brain does it affect, what are those parts responsible for and how does it affect the symptoms of schiz

Answer 10

Involves the prefrontal cortex and cerebral cortex
These are responsible for planning, problem solving, judgement etc
Relates to negative symptoms and neurocognitive impairment

Question 11

How does change in temporal lobe affect schizophrenia?

Answer 11

Resp for processing auditory info and language
Reduction here causes formal thought disorders, hallucinations (due to damage to broca and wernicke AND affecting stored memories and dreams)

Question 12

How does change in limbic system affect schizophrenia?

Answer 12

Limbic system resp for regulating our emotional behaviour

Area where positive symptoms of hallucinations and delusions originate

Question 13

How does left globus pallidus affect schizophrenia?

Answer 13

Involved with motor control and dopaminergic neurons

LGP correlated with negative symptoms of schiz

Question 14

How do dopamine receptors affect schizophrenia?

Answer 14

Elevated presynaptic dopamine levels

Inc in dopamine associated with positive symptoms of schiz and dec in dopamine associated with negative symptoms

Question 15

The neurodevelopmental theory discusses a breakdown of what occurs and when. It is broken down into in utero, adolescence and early childhood. Describe what occurs

Answer 15

In Utero: Genetic and environmental factors
In adolescence: Cannabis containing THC affects the development of activated and inactivated genes, the NT systems, and the function of prefrontal cortex
Early childhood: Hyperdopaminergic positive, negative and cognitive symptoms occur

Question 16

How does the mesolimbic tract affect schiz?

Answer 16

Positive symptoms thought to be caused by dope hyperactivity in this tract
Mesolimbic tract regulates memory and emotion

Question 17

True or false: The mesocortical tract is thought to have an affect of schiz due to hyperactivity

Answer 17

False

Mesocortical tract is resp for inhibiting dope activity therefore it is due to a HYPOACTIVITY that leads to schiz

Question 18

What is the biogenic amine hypothesis?

Answer 18

Suggest that changes in lvls of NT is underlying cause of schiz
Believes that NT involved in the development of schiz are dope, glutamate, GABA and serotonin

Question 19

How does serotonin affect schiz?

Answer 19

Affects negative symps of schiz and depression

Believed there is a dec in serotonin activity in schiz

Question 20

What is the mechanism of action of antipsychotics?

Answer 20

Block dopamine transmission in brain
Blocks D2 receptors on postsynaptic receptors
Blocks ALL dope receptors

Question 21

What is the difference between typical and atypical antipsychotics?

Answer 21

Typical antipsychotic drugs act on the dopaminergic system, blocking the dopamine type 2 (D2) receptors.
Atypical antipsychotics have lower affinity and occupancy for the dopaminergic receptors, and a high degree of occupancy of the serotoninergic receptors 5-HT2A

Question 22

What are the non-pharmacological options for schiz and what do they do?

Answer 22

Electroconvulsive therapy: Comb of antipsycotic depression
Transcranial Magnetic Stim: Treats auditory hallucinations
Glycine: AA dietary supplement which improves func of NMDA receptor which in turn shows improvement with positive and negative symps