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Related Concept Videos

Biological Causes of Schizophrenia01:29

Biological Causes of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia, a severe psychiatric disorder, arises from a complex interplay of biological factors, including genetic predisposition, structural brain abnormalities, neurotransmitter dysregulation, and developmental irregularities. These factors collectively contribute to the onset and progression of the disorder, which typically manifests in late adolescence or early adulthood.
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin studies.
Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders01:27

Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders

Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose origins are rooted in complex genetic components. Despite our burgeoning understanding, the pathophysiology of this disorder remains incompletely deciphered.
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within the...
Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia01:29

Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...
Schizophrenia01:17

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia, a term introduced by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1911, describes a severe psychological disorder marked by profound disruptions in attention, thought processes, language, emotion, and interpersonal relationships. The core feature of schizophrenia is psychosis — a state characterized by a fundamental detachment from reality. This disconnection manifests through distorted logic, impaired perception, and atypical behavior, severely affecting the lives of those diagnosed.
Theoretical Approaches to Psychological Disorder01:29

Theoretical Approaches to Psychological Disorder

The development of psychological disorders, which are characterized by deviant, maladaptive, and personally distressing behaviors, has been explored through several theoretical approaches.
Biological approach
The biological approach posits that internal, organic factors are the primary causes of such disorders. This perspective emphasizes brain structure and function, genetic predispositions, and neurotransmitter imbalances. For example, schizophrenia has been associated with both genetic...
Psychosis and Antipsychotic Drugs: Overview01:28

Psychosis and Antipsychotic Drugs: Overview

The term "psychosis" refers to a spectrum of mental disorders characterized by abnormal thoughts, perceptions, and behaviors. It can manifest as mood disorders, dementia, delirium with psychotic features, substance-induced psychosis with psychotic features, brief psychotic disorder, delusional disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and schizophrenia. Among all these disorders, schizophrenia is the most common psychotic disorder, affecting 1% of the worldwide population. Psychotic symptoms in all...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis
05:52

Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis

Published on: November 21, 2013

[Schizophrenia as a brain disorder and its development].

P Falkai1, T Wobrock, T Schneider-Axmann

  • 1Abteilung für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Germany. pfalkai@gwdg.de

Fortschritte Der Neurologie-Psychiatrie
|June 25, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Schizophrenia involves brain abnormalities that change across illness stages. Neurobiological hypotheses suggest GABA and glutamate system dysfunctions contribute to vulnerability and progression, impacting treatment.

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Published on: November 19, 2020

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Last Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis
05:52

Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis

Published on: November 21, 2013

Derivation, Expansion, Cryopreservation and Characterization of Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
08:04

Derivation, Expansion, Cryopreservation and Characterization of Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Published on: November 19, 2020

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychiatry
  • Neurobiology

Context:

  • Schizophrenia is characterized by functional and structural brain abnormalities.
  • These changes include global deficits (e.g., reduced brain volume) and localized gray matter alterations in the frontal lobe.
  • Abnormalities are linked to disease vulnerability, manifestation, and illness course, including treatment effects.

Purpose:

  • To hypothesize neurobiological changes in schizophrenia across different illness stages: prodromal, first episode, and relapsing course.
  • To explore the roles of the GABAergic and glutamatergic systems, particularly NMDA receptors, in schizophrenia pathogenesis.
  • To discuss potential causal pharmacological treatment options based on pathophysiological hypotheses.

Summary:

  • Hypothesizes distinct neurobiological changes in schizophrenia at various stages.
  • Suggests GABA system hypofunction is key to vulnerability, while glutamatergic/NMDA system destabilization triggers the first psychotic break.
  • Proposes that in relapsing illness, these mechanisms destabilize further, hindering recovery from structural and functional changes.

Impact:

  • Provides a framework for understanding the dynamic neurobiology of schizophrenia.
  • Informs the development of stage-specific pharmacological treatments targeting GABAergic and glutamatergic pathways.
  • Highlights the need to address neurobiological mechanisms to improve functional and structural recovery in schizophrenia patients.