Schizophrenia Essay “Schizophrenia is a severe brain disorder in which people interpret reality abnormally. Schizophrenia may result in some combination of hallucinations, delusions, and Nov 19, · Schizophrenia Essay Words | 5 Pages. is schizophrenia? Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by irrational thought processes. A person dealing with this Dec 11, · Schizophrenia Essay. Schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness that handicaps one’s perception of reality, emotional responses, sagacity, thinking processes and
Schizophrenia - Words | Essay Example
Since antiquity mankind has been faced with the challenge of dealing with several psychological disorders as well as diseases. Most of the diseases and disorders interfere directly schizophrenia essay the normal functioning of the body system. Many common disorders of adult life have been found to follow complex patterns of inheritance. In order for a condition to be considered a psychiatric disorder, the mentioned manifestations must be experienced for over a fortnight. The research paper explores schizophrenia by providing a general overview, a comprehensive discussion of clinical synopsis, genetics and environmental factors in relation to schizophrenia, schizophrenia essay, limitations of the methods of analyses, and a clear demonstration of analytical and conceptual approach.
It explains three genetic and two environmental factors associated with schizophrenia as well as available options for managing the disorder. Epidemiologically, it is a chronic and causes severe mental illness, schizophrenia essay, harsh, and a brain-paralyzing disorder Frangou, Schizophrenia is usually characterized by illusions or the improper perception of what is otherwise real. The individual suffering from schizophrenia has been found to constantly experience auditory delusions, thinking and talking in a haphazard way, and other different forms of hallucinations. Schizophrenia usually confers important morbidity and disability about 1.
Moreover, the patient exhibits cognitive discrepancies, antisocial tendencies, and flat affect. Most significant to note is that this mental illness can only be diagnosed using the personal experiences and overt behavior of the patient. This is due to the fact that its laboratory test is yet to be discovered. Current research findings reveal that there is a strong evidence for a significant genetic link to schizophrenia Frangou, Some of the genes that have been associated with incidences of schizophrenia include Neuregulin 1 NRG 1Disrupted in Schizophrenia DISC 1the DTNBP 1, the catechol-O-methyl transferase COMTCHRNA 7, and so on. It has been established through recent research that these genes have an impact on the several processes that regulate the synaptogenesis and connectivity of the neurons, schizophrenia essay.
This process may play a role in the creation of subtle abnormalities in molecular aspects Williams et al. Consequently, schizophrenia essay, it leads to inefficiency in the functioning of the brain system that causes the schizophrenic symptoms Schizophrenia essay, Three of the major gene factors are discussed in the following paragraphs. Of all the known psychiatric diseases, schizophrenia essay, schizophrenia remains to be one of the most devastating schizophrenia essay them in some parts of the world. A lot of resources have been channeled towards conducting research into the nature of the disease. However, recent studies have implicated a number of possible ways with neuregulin 1 NRG 1 gene also referred to as heuregulin Li et al.
It has been established through a number of genome-wide scans that the NRG 1 is found at 8pp12 which is the best replicated connectivity loci for schizophrenia. The NRG 1 gene is a pleiotropic growth factor and is crucial for the development and functioning of the nervous system Li et al, schizophrenia essay. The gene plays a major role when it comes to modulating the migration of neural, gliogenesesis, synaptogenesis, schizophrenia essay, neuronglia communication, myelinatuin, as well as transmission through the neurons in the brain and other body systems, schizophrenia essay.
NRG 1 is a large and complex gene and spans about 1. Research findings released indicated that an association exists between NRG 1 and schizophrenia as a result of positional mapping of a connection peak on the chromosome 8pin Icelandic families Savonenko, A. et al. Follow up investigations by other researchers have found the same results even though they have used family-based association designs Li et al. However, others have found conflicting results particularly on the basis of race. In an attempt to reconcile the conflicting outcomes and to explain the genetic architecture that exists between NRG 1 and schizophrenia, the most recent meta-analysis uses the results for the most regularly analysed NRG 1 markers from both relevant associations based on population and or family.
Generally, it has been found from research that all of the six individual polymorphisms and the haplotypes at risk in NRG 1indicated a very strong and positive relationship with schizophrenia. However, gene heterogeneity is the principle characteristic of the investigation of complex disorders Li et al. Some of the causes of heterogeneity could be the variety in demographic and clinical diagnosis. This study, however, schizophrenia essay, was limited first by the lack of confidence in the samples used so as to avoid replication as well as due to genetic heterogeneity of schizophrenia. Secondly, schizophrenia essay, the results may have differed due to ethnic and varying geographical location causing variance in observed allele and especially frequencies of haplotype Li et al.
A third explanation of the variations may be due to difference in sampling. Furthermore, environmental conditions may also affect results obtained. From the above discussion, it is evident that research has proved that NRG 1 in one of the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and is a gene in the brain glutamine system Savonenko, Melnikova, schizophrenia essay, Laird, Stewart et al. Schizophrenia essay kind of knowledge is important to different fields; it has scientific implications, clinic and for the public good, schizophrenia essay. At the dawn of the 21 schizophrenia essay century, several new susceptibility genes for schizophrenia were determined. The detection was by achieved by conducting association studies.
For instance, dystrobrevin-binding protein 1 DTNBP1; chromosome location 6p In an attempt to replicate the studies, single-nucleotide polymorphisms of these genes were evaluated in three independent schizophrenia population case-control samples. Some DTNBP1 and 3 GRM3 SPNs did not show significant associations to schizophrenia. The study concluded that variation in DTNBP1 gene may be a predisposing factor to a type of psychotic disease associated with increased negative symptoms Burdick, Lencs, schizophrenia essay, Funke, Finn et al. It supports the assertion that has existed before; that genetic factors do affect the clinical heterogeneity of schizophrenia as a psychotic disorder Narr, Szeszko, Lencz, Woods et al.
It is found at chromosome 15q, which is a region initially linked with schizophrenia. Researchers in the field of genetic association as well as mRNA7 expression investigations have implicated CHRNA7 in schizophrenia, schizophrenia essay. The study findings indicate that the ratios of alpha7 to alpha7-like mRNA levels in bipolar disorder as well as schizophrenia are much lower than that in controls, schizophrenia essay. The bipolar subjects show the highest magnitude of alteration. This study can be of great importance. It is schizophrenia essay to measure the mRNA levels of alpha 7-nicotinic receptor subunit CHRNA7 separately from that of pseudo-gene CHRFAM7A. This can be done by quantitatively using sequence-specific fluorescent primers in schizophrenia essay PCR De Luca et al.
Also, CHRNA7 expression in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is not different between schizophrenia subjects, schizophrenia essay, those with bipolar disorder or unaffected controls, schizophrenia essay. Moreover, the ratio of CHRNA7: CHRFAM7A mRNA levels do not differ in bipolar subjects particularly when compared to those subjects with schizophrenia or those unaffected controls. There are some limitations that are inherent in this particular case. Medical treatment, use of nicotine and agonal events can significantly change the levels of mRNA in human postmortem tissue.
This can potentially confound disease effects. Secondly, the expression of the ready functional mRNA transcripts of CHRNA7 and CHRFAM7A were not measured De Luca et al. On the hand, schizophrenia essay, sample sizes for such studies are normally quite small due to the fact that it is difficult to get postmortem human brain tissue. It has been found that the released person will react differently depending to the degree to which relatives verbalised criticism, hostility, or emotional over-engagement directed to the patient which is referred to as expressed schizophrenia essay EE Kopelowicz et al, schizophrenia essay.
This incident will result in relapse of the patient followed by rehospitalisation within schizophrenia essay year of being released. Consequently, the finding has led to schizophrenia essay development of meaningful family intervention attempts to help psychiatric patients especially those with schizophrenia recover and join the family upon being discharged from hospital. Many researchers have ventured deeper with an aim of understanding the relationships among EE and the course of illness as well as its relation to relapse. Interpersonal interaction between the patient and the rest of the family members or relatives is also of significance to researchers in this field, schizophrenia essay.
They have also conducted cross-cultural research of families and how they contribute to the advancement in understanding the role of families as far as schizophrenia is concerned. Culture has emerged to be very influential in shaping the how family members interact especially perception of illness and emotional reactions Kopelowicz et al. This study is important since it helps understand the relationship between EE and relapse, family interaction and relapse, and EE and family interaction. The findings also help families adjust to the needs of their patient without causing any relapse. However, the conclusions from the study may not be generalisable due to the small sample use. Also, the study interviewed only one relative yet family interaction schizophrenia essay of many people and hence the need for longitudinal study so schizophrenia essay to capture different parties involved in the interaction network.
Substance abuse has been associated with schizophrenia especially the schizophrenia essay of cannabis sativa, amphetamines schizophrenia essay well as cocaine. Research findings reveal that more than half of those suffering from the disorder abuse drugs, schizophrenia essay. This is schizophrenia essay because schizophrenia is characterised by depression, feeling lonely, schizophrenia essay, and general anxiety Frangou, Cannabis is highly addictive and poses a great risk of psychotic illnesses. Continued use of the drug increases schizophrenia essay risk of developing schizophrenia. Many theories concerning schizophrenia have been put forward.
Moreover, schizophrenia essay, neurobiology which involves the study of the nervous system schizophrenia essay the social schizophrenia essay mental processes has been identified as playing a major role in the development of schizophrenia. It is important, however, to note that the root causes of schizophrenia have not yet been fully established but continuous research has brought some sense of schizophrenia essay as far as its schizophrenia essay is concerned Frangou, According to Frangou, modern antipsychotic medication is basically the foundation of known pharmacological treatment of schizophrenia Current antipsychotic medications seek to eliminate the symptoms associated with the schizophrenia and allow the patient to live a normal life in the society.
Although the older types of anti-psychotics are in use today, most current ones which include clozapine are very effective in schizophrenia essay treatment of acute symptoms. For individuals who are genetically schizophrenia essay to this particular disorder, schizophrenia essay, the use of some medicinal drugs or those that are meant to be used for recreational purposes may also be the cause or serve to enhance the rate of suffering from schizophrenia. For example, clozapine reduces the number of white blood cells in the body hence causing an increase in the risk of infections. The side effects of using antipsychotic schizophrenia essay include improper vision, rashes on the skin, increased heartbeat, and can schizophrenia essay affect monthly periods among females.
The paper has presented a comprehensive discussion of schizophrenia. It has explored the two major causes which are: Genetic factors and environment, schizophrenia essay. The benefits of the studies as well as their weaknesses have also been highlighted. Under genetic, three genes have been discussed and include the NRG1, DTNBP1, and CHRNA7. Environmental factors, on the other hand include family interaction and substance abuse. The paper has discussed the strategies for managing schizophrenia especially in the modern age where psychosocial treatment options are now becoming popular as traditional medications fail to bring relief to the patient, schizophrenia essay.
Schizophrenia essay, J, schizophrenia essay. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 19 4 : Burdick, K. January Genetic variation in DTNBP1 influences general cognitive ability. Human Molecular Genetics, schizophrenia essay, 15, 10 : De Luca, V. February Regulation of alpha7-nicotinic receptor subunit and alpha7-like gene expression in the prefrontal cortex of patients with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia: Lessons Learned From Past Exams
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Schizophrenia Essay “Schizophrenia is a severe brain disorder in which people interpret reality abnormally. Schizophrenia may result in some combination of hallucinations, delusions, and Nov 19, · Schizophrenia Essay Words | 5 Pages. is schizophrenia? Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by irrational thought processes. A person dealing with this Dec 11, · Schizophrenia Essay. Schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness that handicaps one’s perception of reality, emotional responses, sagacity, thinking processes and
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