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Psychotherapy: 98b/100b - Schizophrenias

Biology10 CardsCreated 12 days ago

This flashcard set outlines the neurobiology and treatment principles of schizophrenia. All antipsychotic medications work by inhibiting dopamine signaling, which is central to managing both positive and negative symptoms. A delusion is defined as a fixed, false belief that may be bizarre (violates physical laws) or non-bizarre (possible but untrue).

What is the general mechanism of action of every antipsychotic medication?

Inhibit dopamine signaling

(Dopamine signaling is implicated in both positive and negative symptoms of schizphrenia)

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Key Terms

Term
Definition

What is the general mechanism of action of every antipsychotic medication?

Inhibit dopamine signaling

(Dopamine signaling is implicated in both positive and negative symptoms of schizphrenia)...

What is a delusion?

Firmly held, fixed, false belief

Can be bizzare or non-bizzare

(Bizzare violates the ...

Dopamine dysregulation in the mesocortical dopamine tract results in [positive/negative] symptoms

Dopamine dysregulation in the mesolimbic dopamine tract results in [positive/negative] symptoms

Dopamine dysregulation in the mesocortical dopamine tract results in negative symptoms

Dopamine dys...

What is the most common psychotic disorder?

Schizophrenia

What changes can be seen in the brain of a person with schizophrenia?

  • Volume loss

  • Changes in interneurons

  • Enlarged ventricles

  • Thalamic and hippocam...

What are the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia?

2+ of the following for >6 months, resulting in marked impairment in role function

  • Delusions

  • Hallucinations

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TermDefinition

What is the general mechanism of action of every antipsychotic medication?

Inhibit dopamine signaling

(Dopamine signaling is implicated in both positive and negative symptoms of schizphrenia)

What is a delusion?

Firmly held, fixed, false belief

Can be bizzare or non-bizzare

(Bizzare violates the laws of physics; non-bizzare is physically possible)

Dopamine dysregulation in the mesocortical dopamine tract results in [positive/negative] symptoms

Dopamine dysregulation in the mesolimbic dopamine tract results in [positive/negative] symptoms

Dopamine dysregulation in the mesocortical dopamine tract results in negative symptoms

Dopamine dysregulation in the mesolimbic dopamine tract results in positive symptoms

What is the most common psychotic disorder?

Schizophrenia

What changes can be seen in the brain of a person with schizophrenia?

  • Volume loss

  • Changes in interneurons

  • Enlarged ventricles

  • Thalamic and hippocampal changes

No neurodegeneration!!

Schizophrenia is caused by abnormal neuronal migration during development, not neurodegeneration

Affects both white and grey matter

What are the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia?

2+ of the following for >6 months, resulting in marked impairment in role function

  • Delusions

  • Hallucinations

  • Disorganized speech

  • Grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior

  • Negative symptoms

    • Removal of traits that animate a person

What is the difference between a positive symptoms and a negative symptom of schizophrenia?

List some examples of each

  • Positive sypmtom = new things overlaid on normal psyche

    • Delusions

    • Hallucinations

    • Disorganized speech

    • Disorganized or catatonic behavior

  • Negative symptom = absence of normal behaviors

    • Apathy

    • Affective flattening

    • Alogia

    • Avolition

    • Anhedonia

Which neurotransmitter is implicated in patients with schizophrenia and psychosis?

Dopamine

  • Dysregulation in the mesolimbic dopamine tract -> positive symptoms

  • Dysregulation in the mesocortical dopamine tract -> negative and cognitive symptoms

Serotonin, NMDA are likely also involved

Describe the pathophysiology of schizophrenia

Impaired neuronal migration during development

  • Genes/toxins/hypoxia influence…

  • Neuronal formation, migration, synaptogenesis, synaptic pruning, resulting in…

  • Functional anatomical disruption, resulting in…

  • Impairment in 1+ second-order cognitive processes

  • This results in the symptoms of schizophrenia, around age 18-25

NOT neurodegenerative

What are the risk factors for schizophrenia?

  • Genetic factors contribute the most risk

  • Environmental factors: Mother experiences during early neurogenesis or in the prenatal period

    • Fetal hypoxia, birth trauma

    • Maternal infection

    • Winter birth months

    • Low SES

    • Extreme stress