Schizophrenia homework notes reading.pptx

homework notes

1. Schizophrenia Name Course Institution

2. Introduction to Schizophrenia Definition: Chronic and severe mental disorder affecting thinking, feelings, behavior. Symptoms: Hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, cognitive impairment. Prevalence: Affects about 1% of the population worldwide. Onset: Typically appears in late adolescence or early adulthood. Causes: Combination of genetic, neurochemical, and structural brain abnormalities. Impact: Disrupts daily functioning, often leading to social and occupational challenges.

3. Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia Dopamine Hypothesis: Imbalances in the brain's dopaminergic system. Hyperdopaminergic State: Increased dopamine in the mesolimbic pathway linked to hallucinations, delusions. Hypodopaminergic State: Low dopamine in the prefrontal cortex linked to cognitive deficits, social withdrawal. Glutamate Hypothesis: Dysfunction in NMDA receptors affects cognitive abilities. Neurodevelopmental Factors: Abnormal synaptic pruning and neuronal development. Genetic and Epigenetic Influences: Inherited risks combined with environmental triggers.

4. Neurodevelopmental Abnormalities Early Development Issues: Impairments in brain development, often beginning in infancy. Synaptic Pruning: Aggressive synaptic pruning in adolescence leads to reduced neural circuits. Affected Brain Areas: Prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, thalamus. Structural Impairments: These areas are key for cognition, emotion regulation, perception. Interaction with Genetics: Neurodevelopmental abnormalities work with genetic and environmental factors. Onset of Symptoms: Triggered by stress or developmental changes during critical brain growth periods.

5. Genetic and Epigenetic Factors Genetic Predisposition: Heritability of schizophrenia is 60-80%. Key Genes Involved: COMT gene (dopamine metabolism) and DISC1 gene (neurodevelopment). Environmental Triggers: Prenatal stress, malnutrition, infections. Epigenetic Changes: Modifications in gene expression without altering DNA sequence. Impact on Brain Development: Affects neurotransmission, neurodevelopment, and immune functions. Increased Risk: Interaction between genetic susceptibility and environmental factors increases risk.

6. Role of Neuroinflammation and Oxidative Stress Neuroinflammation : Activation of brain’s immune cells (microglia) leading to inflammation. Impact on Neurons: Inflammation disrupts synapses and brain connectivity. Oxidative Stress: Imbalance between ROS production and antioxidant defenses. Cellular Damage: Neuronal damage to lipids, proteins, and DNA from oxidative stress. Worsening Symptoms: Both neuroinflammation and oxidative stress worsen cognitive and psychotic symptoms. Complex Management: Schizophrenia treatment requires addressing inflammation and oxidative damage.

7. Clinical Case Illustration Patient: 28-year-old female, history of schizophrenia in family. Symptoms: Auditory hallucinations, paranoid delusions, social withdrawal. Physical Exam: Disheveled appearance, flat affect, poor eye contact. Diagnosis: Paranoid subtype schizophrenia based on mental status and investigations. Treatment Plan: Antipsychotics (e.g., risperidone ), CBT, family therapy, social support. Outcome: Regular follow-up and comprehensive treatment required for symptom management.

8. Management Strategies Antipsychotic Medications: First-line treatment, targeting positive symptoms. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps manage hallucinations and delusions. Family Therapy: Educates and supports the family in understanding schizophrenia. Social Support: Assistance with housing, vocational rehabilitation, and social reintegration. Monitoring: Regular psychiatric follow-up to assess treatment response and side effects. Holistic Care: Combines medical, psychological, and social support for better outcomes.

9. References Javitt , D. C. (2023). Cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia: from pathophysiology to treatment. Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology , 63(1), 119-141. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-051921-093250 Luvsannyam , E., Jain, M. S., Pormento , M. K. L., Siddiqui, H., Balagtas , A. R. A., Emuze , B. O., & Poprawski , T. (2022). Neurobiology of schizophrenia: a comprehensive review. Cureus , 14(4). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.23979 McCutcheon, R. A., Keefe, R. S., & McGuire, P. K. (2023). Cognitive impairment in schizophrenia: aetiology , pathophysiology, and treatment. Molecular Psychiatry , 28(5), 1902-1918. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-023-01949-9