Genetics, Brain Structure, and Behavior Presentation Evaluation

Joshua Osman

PSY/340

12/16/2013

Rebecca Wilson

Schizophrenia is a complicated chronic condition of the brain which causes a person to interpret reality abnormally. In the presentation “Schizophrenia”, Team B dives into the depths of the disease, thoroughly defining and explaining causes and possible genetic onset, which areas of the brain are damaged or interrupted, and how the disorder can affect day to day life of patients. Cures and treatment options are discussed in detail including therapies, future treatment, and preventative methods. This paper will review the information offered by Team B, discuss the overall quality of the information, and assess the level of organization applied.

Schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder that not only affects a person's ability to function cognitively, but also their ability to see reality as it actually is. Brain disorders have the potential to impair any number of human functions and schizophrenia is no different. A breakdown of connections in the brain is a significant aspect of this mental disorder which leads to a lack of emotional stability, thought, and ultimately perception. A mental disorder such as schizophrenia is often crippling and disabling to those who are afflicted.

Causes of schizophrenia have yet to be pinpointed, but it is believed to be caused by an overstimulation of dopamine, a chemical produced in the brain. The disorder is not more prominent in either men or women, but affects an equal amount of each; however, the illness is milder in women. There are theories which point to genetics as a means of contraction, family history is potentially a key factor development of the disease, but these theories are yet to be confirmed.

Schizophrenia is a result of significant neurological damage and changes to the brain, more specifically; alterations in the cerebral cortex (the area of the brain known for cognitive control) are the focal point for neurological damage that causes schizophrenia. Several researchers have studied embryos during early stages of development in the womb, looking for evidence of degeneration or underdevelopment of neurons in the brain. One explanation for the fewer neurons could be there was a lack of oxygen to body tissue during the birthing process (Jacobsen and Kinney, 1975; Parnas et al. 1982 as cited by Benes et al, 1993). There are also changes to the vertical axons in the anterior cingulated cortex of the schizophrenic brain, which might indicate that glutamatergic axons that function as neural transmitters might migrate from other cortical parts of the brain that are “connected to the anterior cingulate” (Benes, 1993, p. 540). Ultimately, this would cause a misfire of the pyramidal cells resulting in an increase production of dopamine. It is implied that if the dopamine production could be controlled, the misfiring of pyramidal cells would be lessened allowing for better thought processes.

There is no doubt that disorders of the brain can strongly affect the behavior and function of those who suffer from an illness. In the early stages of schizophrenia, symptoms start slow then become more prominent as the illness progresses. Schizophrenia is one mental disorder that is associated with a multitude of intense and debilitating symptoms including: trouble sleeping, irritability, trouble concentrating, delusions, paranoia, hallucinations, reduced emotions, loose associations, and bizarre behaviors.

There are four stages to the development of schizophrenia:

1st – Prodromal Stage, the slow beginning of brain changes.
2nd – Psychosis onset, beginning to become delusional.
3rd – Stabilization, medications begin to level out symptoms but relapse is likely.
4th – Heterogeneity stage, symptoms reduce and dementia can start to take shape.

Symptoms and behaviors caused by schizophrenia are generally controlled through therapy and medications. Psychotropic drugs were developed in the 1950’s and were used to reduce the amount of delusions and hallucinations experienced by patients. Most patients would eventually stop taking the drugs due to the strong side effects they caused. Atypical medications were introduced as a replacement to the earlier typical antipsychotics. These new medications performed equally in diminishing symptoms of schizophrenia with far less side effects, a promising selling point for patients. Working along-side the medications, therapy is an important treatment for schizophrenia. Many patients benefit from an inpatient therapeutic life in the early stages of the disorder, progressively becoming more independent as medications and the symptoms level out. Community treatment and group therapies are offered in many areas, along with social and job skills training to help patients transition back into society.

Advancements in treatment and therapies for schizophrenia is slow moving, and in fact has not progressed much since the days of typical antipsychotics. However, medications are improving and breakthroughs are being made in the area of genetics and researchers are hopeful.

Schizophrenia is a complicated and involved illness that carries with it a lot of unknowns. The data for this disease is immeasurable, but Team B gathered the necessary resources and created an in depth presentation full of valuable information. Visually, the presentation kept my attention and portrayed the dark yet scientific side of this brain disorder. Their use of art and photography communicated the feelings and seriousness associated with such a heavy subject, but also displayed a visual that reinforced the information.

Overall, I feel Team B designed and wrote a professional and educated presentation, stacked with specific and in depth data. The information flowed from beginning to end and transitioned well between each bit of information. Schizophrenia has many faces and stories and this presentation captured the struggle I can only assume a patient would face. The description of the illness was described thoroughly, as was the behaviors and effected areas of the brain.

Reference:

Benes, F. M. (1993). Neurobiological Investigations in Cingulate Cortex of Schizophrenic Brain. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 19(3), 537-549. ProQuest database