Biological Basis Of Schizophrenia
Biological Basis Of Schizophrenia
(Biological Basis Of Schizophrenia)
Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder with both genetic and environmental factors influencing its development. At its core lies dysregulation in neurotransmitter systems, particularly dopamine, glutamate, and serotonin. Dopamine dysfunction, especially in the mesolimbic pathway, is strongly associated with positive symptoms like hallucinations and delusions. Glutamate abnormalities, particularly hypofunction of the NMDA receptor, contribute to cognitive deficits seen in schizophrenia. Structural brain abnormalities, including enlarged ventricles and reduced gray matter volume, are also observed.
Genetic predisposition plays a significant role, with heritability estimates around 80%. Several susceptibility genes have been identified, implicating processes such as synaptic function, neurodevelopment, and immune response. Environmental factors such as prenatal stress, urban upbringing, and substance abuse during adolescence can increase vulnerability.
Moreover, epigenetic modifications, alterations in brain connectivity, and neuroinflammation have been implicated. The interplay between genetic predisposition and environmental stressors likely disrupts neurodevelopmental processes, leading to the onset of symptoms in early adulthood. Understanding these multifaceted biological underpinnings is crucial for developing more effective treatments for schizophrenia.
There is a lot of research on our next topic: the biological basis of schizophrenia. There is still a lot more work to do but we have a lot of information to build on. Read the sections called, “Diagnosis”, “Genetics”, and “The Neurodevelopmental Hypothesis” in module 14.3 (15.2 in the 11th edition) of the textbook.
Source: Public Library of Science (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site., 2005 – Comparison of a Selected Set of Relatively Well-Established Risk Factors for Schizophrenia, Focusing Mainly on Pre- and Antenatal Factors (abbreviations: CNS, central nervous system; depr, depression).
Post a thoughtful response to the following question. What could be done to try to reduce the rate of schizophrenia in the population using the information we have about what correlates with schizophrenia risk?
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Reply to a classmate’s response with in depth commentary about what might work or not work about their proposal or adding more detail to their proposal.
