Explain the neuropharmacology of Schizophrenia, Major Depression, or Anxiety Dis
ID: 3520873 • Letter: E
Question
Explain the neuropharmacology of Schizophrenia, Major Depression, or Anxiety Disorder. Your description does not need to include 100% of lecture material. Include 1-2 strong examples from assigned reading to support your answer a. What is the cellular and molecular pathology behind the disease? How does disease alter the basic pharmacokinetics? What areas of the brain are involved? What NT's, stimuli, ligands and corresponding receptors transmit signs? C. e. What is the basic signaling pathway (EPSPs? IPSPs?) What are physiologic and behavior pathologies associated with the disease? What are treatment options? g.Explanation / Answer
Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder affecting thousands of people. It is not curable but can be suppressed and controlled with the help of drugs. A person suffering from this disease experiences unusual perceptions or expressions of reality. They can experience auditory and visual hallucinations in which they can 'hear' or 'see' thins which are not actually there. They may be strange and paranoid delusions and disorganized speech and thinking.
It is not known what causes schizophrenia but researchers believe that a combination of genetics, brain chemistry and environmental factors contribute to the development of this disorder. There is a consensus among the physicians and psychologists that schizophrenia is a brain disorder. Problems with certain naturally occurring brain chemicals, including neurotransmitters called dopamine and glutamate, may be a cause of schizophrenia. Neuroimaging studies have shown that there is some abnormality in the brain structure and central nervous system of affected people.
High resolution MRI of the brain has shown that three areas of the brain are affected in schizophrenia patients-- two areas in the frontal lobes and one very small area of the hippocampus, known as CA1. The lateral brain ventricles appear enlarged and there is about a 25% loss in the gray matter in certain areas of the schizophrenic brain. Patients with very severe symptoms showed the highest loss of brain tissue. The bright part is that researchers are working on reversing the loss of gray matter in the schizophrenic brain by drug therapy which could improve cognitive functions in the patients.
Symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions usually start between ages 16 to 30 years [ in very rare cases, it develops in children as young as 10 years of age]. If left untreated, schizophrenia can result in severe complications and behavioral problems. People might attempt suicide or self-injury. Anxiety, depression, inability to work normally abuse of alcohol or other drugs are common problems faced by affected people.
The worst part of all this is that, till date, schizophrenia is considered as a social stigma and not just like any other disease. Many a time, families disown the patients even after they have returned to some sort of normalcy. Hence many schizophrenia patients are left destitute and it is a big problem to give them a home.
Treatment is done by giving drugs and in extreme cases, electric shocks are given to the brain tissues. Placing the patients in mental- asylum is considered in extreme cases and this is done only if proper care and treatment of the patient is not possible at home.
Whatever, the situation, we need to educate people about some facts about schizophrenia so that such people are not treated as social outcasts even after treatment.
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