Causes o Genetics 10% of people who have a 1st degree relative (sibling, parent) have schizophrenia Identical twin-

n- 40-65% No gene causes the disease itself Have higher rates of rare mutations Involve special combination of hundreds of genes Probably disrupting brain development May result when certain gene that is key for neurological chemicals malfunctions o Different brain chemistry and structure Imbalance of chemical reactions involving dopamine and glutamate Ventricles tend to appear larger Less gray matter Areas may have less or more activity May be caused by faulty connections in brain at birth Usually does not appear until puberty, when brain undergoes changes symptoms o May be unknown trigger that causes exaggerated pruning of brain cells o Inadequate myelin coating Less brain communication o Chemical imbalance Environmental triggers, stress trauma, drug abuse Methamphetamine- dopamine in brain May be a genetic predisposition Signs o Positive symptoms psychotic symptoms that healthy people dont exhibit Hallucinations Senses (tastes, hears, sees, smells, feels) things no one else does Most commonly hear disembodied voices May talk to the person about the way they behave, instruct them to do things, or tell them something is dangerous See objects/people Smell odors Feel things like invisible fingers Delusions Belief that is clearly false o Believe them even after they are proven false Neighbors can control them with magnetic waves Television messages Radio stations broadcast your thoughts aloud Believe they are someone else, famous figure Delusions of Persecution o Paranoia o People may harm you

Thought disorders Unusual ways of thinking Cannot organize thoughts Talk in a garbled way Stop in the middle of a thought Might make up nonsense words Movement disorders May repeat body movements Catatonic o Rare now that more treatment for schizophrenia is available o Negative Symptoms Disruptions to normal emotions and behaviors Flat affect o Face shows no emotion when talking o Monotonous voice Lack of enjoyment in everyday life Cannot begin and finish planned activities Speaks little o Cognitive symptoms Hard to detect; similar to ADHD Poor executive functioning Ability to understand info and use it to make decisions Difficulties paying attention or focusing Problems with working memory Using info right after learning it People affected o 1% of Americans have schizophrenia o 1.1% of people worldwide What part of body is affected o Damage in parietal cortex and frontal lobe Parietal cortex- in charge of sensory experience Frontal lobe- organize lives, go to work, analyze work Loss of brain tissues in reshaping during puberty for people with schizophrenia o Developmental changes take place normally o People with * may lose ability to filter Tissue loss at over 5% a year Comparable to Alzheimers 25% brain tissue loss in 5 years if diagnosed in early teens o Does not affect every part of brain Late 20s- 1 percent a year of whole brain o Slower process, drugs intervene o 10-15% of tissue loss overall Treatments o Focus on eliminating symptoms o Antipsychotic medications

Chlorpromazine, Fluphenzaine, Haloperidol, Perphenazine 1950s 1990s- new clozapine Treats symptoms, hallucinations, and breaks with reality o Depletes white blood cells Risperidone- does not cause agranulocytosis Side effects Drowsiness, dizziness, rapid heartbeat, rigidity, tremors Long term use may tardive dyskinesia o Uncontrollable muscle movements, usually near mouth Liquid or pill form Relapses may occur o Psychosocial treatments Help people who are on meds Less likely to relapse/be hospitalized Communication, self-care, work, and making and sustaining relationships o Rehab, family education o Cognitive behavioral therapy Focuses on thinking, helps deal with symptoms that do not disappear with meds Test reality of voices Not listen to voice 50 times higher risk of suicide, usually due to lack of treatment o 40% of attempting, 10-13% of death as opposed to the general population .01% 28% live independently 25% of people living with * are relatively independent after 10 years, 25 % completely recover, 25% need extensive work. 15%are hospitalized, 10% are dead Researching identification of early risk, like enlarged ventricles, prevention for those who are predisposed o Avoid hallucinogens