background preloader

Schizophrenia

Facebook Twitter

Schizophrenia - Causes. Increased risk Genetics Schizophrenia tends to run in families, but no single gene is thought to be responsible. It's more likely that different combinations of genes make people more vulnerable to the condition. However, having these genes does not necessarily mean you'll develop schizophrenia. Evidence that the disorder is partly inherited comes from studies of twins. In identical twins, if a twin develops schizophrenia, the other twin has a 1 in 2 chance of developing it, too. In non-identical twins, who have different genetic make-ups, when a twin develops schizophrenia, the other only has a 1 in 8 chance of developing the condition. While this is higher than in the general population, where the chance is about 1 in 100, it suggests genes are not the only factor influencing the development of schizophrenia.

Differences in brain development Studies of people with schizophrenia have shown there are subtle differences in the structure of their brains. Neurotransmitters Triggers These include: Schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a long-term mental health condition that causes a range of different psychological symptoms, including: hallucinations - hearing or seeing things that do not exist delusions - unusual beliefs not based on reality which often contradict the evidence muddled thoughts based on the hallucinations or delusions changes in behaviour Doctors often describe schizophrenia as a psychotic illness.

This means sometimes a person may not be able to distinguish their own thoughts and ideas from reality. Read more about the symptoms of schizophrenia. Why does schizophrenia happen? The exact cause of schizophrenia is unknown. It is thought certain things make you more vulnerable to developing schizophrenia, and certain situations can trigger the condition. Read more about the causes of schizophrenia. Who is affected? Schizophrenia is one of the most common serious mental health conditions. Schizophrenia is most often diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 35. How is schizophrenia treated?

Elsevier. Psilocybin-Induced Decrease in Amygdala Reactivity Correlates with Enhanced Positive Mood in Healthy Volunteers DOI: Publication stage: In Press Accepted Manuscript Biological Psychiatry xThe amygdala is a key structure in serotonergic emotion-processing circuits. Chronic cannabinoid CB2 activation reverses paclitaxel neuropathy without tolerance or CB1-dependent withdrawal DOI: xMixed cannabinoid CB1/CB2 agonists such as Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) can produce tolerance, physical withdrawal, and unwanted CB1-mediated central nervous system side effects. A Neurodevelopmental Perspective on The Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) Framework DOI: Publication stage: In Press Corrected Proof DOI: Amygdala - prefrontal cortex functional connectivity during threat-induced anxiety and goal-distraction.

Lay theories of schizophrenia. Background: This study set out to compare British and Chinese young people’s beliefs about the manifestations, causes and cures of schizophrenia. Method: A total of 339 participants completed a 60-item questionnaire to compare lay theories of schizophrenia between British (in England) and Chinese (in Hong Kong) participants. The participants completed the three-part questionnaire in their mother tongue looking at beliefs about schizophrenia in general, causal explanation for the aetiology of schizophrenia and optimal cures for the condition. Results: These two hypotheses were confirmed after factor-analysing the internal structure of the three sections of the questionnaire. Conclusion: Concern with mental health literacy has led to more studies on lay theories about major mental illnesses (specifically schizophrenia) because these theories reflect societal attitudes to patients and behaviour toward them.

Relatives' beliefs about the causes of schizophrenia - Angermeyer - 2007 - Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. Schizo and family influences. Login.seam?ERIGHTS_TARGET=http%3A%2F%2Fpsycnet.apa. Freudian psychoanalysis. 3-5-schizophrenia. A Level Psychology Notes: Schizophrenia. Schizophrenia ‘Schizophrenia’ = Skhizein (To split) and Phren (Mind) in Greek. Schizophrenia is completely different to DID.Schizophrenia is a loss of contact with reality – sufferers are not aware of the effects of their behaviour on others around them. Speculations on the origins and development of schizophrenia range from entirely ‘genetic and biological’ through to ‘genetic predisposition and environment trigger’ to the ‘entirely environmental/social.’

Clinical Characteristics: A distinction exists between acute and chronic onset:1. Chronic = Insidious change in an apparently normal young person who gradually starts to lose drive and motivation and drift away from friends. After months or even years of this deterioration, more obvious signs of disturbance, such as delusional ideas or hallucinations appear.2. Sub types of schizophrenia include:1. Genetic Explanations for Schizophrenia: Below shows the evidence indicating strong genetic links between genetics and schizophrenia. 1. 2. A2 Psychology. Schizophrenia Think of ‘madness’ and we probably think of schizophrenia. It is the ultimate when it comes to psychological disorders and abnormality, strange then that as a condition it is so loosely defined, to the point were some psychologists even question its very existence! That is not to question that some people (about 1% of the population) do suffer what we would term ‘schizophrenic symptoms,’ but given that the symptoms are so varied can we really group them all under on umbrella term of ‘schizophrenia?’

Schizophrenia is a massive health care issue. It is estimated that there are over half a million schizophrenics and that 10% of all NHS beds contain a schizophrenic. As a nation we spend an estimated £1.7 billion (£1,700,000,000) on treating schizophrenia each year. That is more than we spend on treating cancer! What is schizophrenia? Not an easy question to answer, but one thing it certainly is not is ‘split personality!’ History of the term The symptoms of schizophrenia c. Genetic. Patients' and their relatives' causal explanations of schizophrenia. Biological explanations of schizophrenia. Psychological explanations of schizophrenia. Level Psychology Psychopathology Revision - Explanations of Schizophrenia. No single cause has been identified, biological, behavioural and social research suggests a complex interplay between factors.

For example, people might have an inherited tendency towards schizophrenia that is triggered by environmental circumstances. Family history studies show that schizophrenia tends to run in families. The rate of schizophrenia in the general population is about 1%, but estimates vary. Studies using twins show that in identical (monozygotic or MZ) twins, if one has schizophrenia, the other has 40-50% chance of developing the illness. Concordance rates for schizophrenia are three times higher in identical twins than non-identical twins (dizygotic or DZ).

If one parent has schizophrenia then a child has about ten percent chance of developing it. The problem with families, including twins, is that they share the same environment. Genetic factors could be behind biochemical or neurological defects outlined below. Evidence for the dopamine hypothesis:. Bio vz pscho. The Dopamine Hypothesis of Schizophrenia: Version III—The Final Common Pathway. A Level Psychology Notes: Schizophrenia.