Schizophrenia Flashcards
(27 cards)
What is the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia?
- episodes last for at least 6 months
- at least 1 month of active symptoms including 2 or more of the following:
- delusions
- hallucinations
- disorganized speech
- grossly disorganized behaviour or catatonic behaviour
- negative symptoms
Schizophrenia is often associated with ____________.
anhedonia
What is the prevalence of schizophrenia?
0.5-1%
TRUE or fALSE: incidence rates are lower than prevalence rates
TRUE
Why are incidence rates lower than prevalence rates for schizophrenia?
because schizophrenia tends to be chronic
First-degree biological relatives are at ____ x risk for schizophrenia
10
peak age of onset for schizophrenia in men and women?
- men: 15-25
- women: 25-35
What is the general treatment for schizophrenia?
drug therapy (antipsychotics)
What are the 2 main avenues oi research for schizophrenia neuropathology?
- NT imbalance
- neurodegredation
Which gene is strongly associated with schizophrenia and neuropsychiatric disorders?
DISC 1 gene
What does the DISC 1 gene normally regulate?
birth of new neurons in the adult brain
The Disrupted in Schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) gene is disrupted by a _____________________________ in a __________ family with a high incidence of major depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.
- balanced chromosomal translocation
- Scottish
TRUE or FALSE: DISC1 plays a role in brain development
TRUE
Suppression of DISC1 expression reduces neural progenitor proliferation, leading to premature cell cycle exit and differentiation. Several lines of evidence suggest that DISC1 mediates this function by regulating _______________.
GSK3-beta
What is GSK3-beta?
kinase
Which receptors do drug therapies for schizophrenia MAINLY target?
mainly D2
List the typical antipsychotics used to target DA receptors for schizophrenia. What are side effects?
- haldol
- largactil
- MOTOR side-effects: dystonia, Parkinsonism, tardive dyskinesia
LIst the newer atypical drugs that have less side effects in schizophrenia treatment. Which receptors do they target? What is the therapeutic mechanism of action for these drugs?
- clozaril
-risperdal
-zyprexa - target 5HT receptors (5HT2)
- MOA: balance between 5HT and DA receptor antagonism
What are the major neural pathways involved in schizophrenia?
- mesocorticolimbic DA pathway
- ascending forebrain 5HT projections
Describe the neural pathway for mesocorticolimbic pathway.
VTA to nucleus accumbens septi (NAS) & PFC
Describe the neural pathway for the ascending forebrain 5HT projections.
dorsal and median raphe nuclei to the septum, hippocampus, VTA, NAS, and cortex
Which dopaminergic receptor shows increased binding in schizophrenia? Which region of the brain? How is this affected by antipsychotic drugs
- D1
- MPFC
- drugs decrease D1 receptor density
Which dopaminergic receptor is more readily available for binding in schizophrenia? Where in the brain?
D2; LEFT caudate nucleus
TRUE or FALSE: there is increased right caudate D1 receptor availability in schizophrenia
FALSE: left; D2
