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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...
Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia: Hallucinations and Delusions01:30

Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia: Hallucinations and Delusions

Schizophrenia is a complex mental health disorder that can manifest with various positive symptoms, including thought, movement, and behavior disorders. These symptoms significantly disrupt cognitive and motor functions, leading to profound effects on an individual's ability to engage with the world.
Thought Disorders
Disorganized and unusual thought processes mark thought disorders in schizophrenia. One key feature is disorganized speech, where an individual's conversation includes loosely...
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.
Negative and Cognitive Symptoms of Schizophrenia01:30

Negative and Cognitive Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Negative symptoms of schizophrenia indicate a reduction or absence of typical behaviors and emotional responses found in healthy individuals, while positive symptoms reflect an excess or distortion of normal functioning.
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia manifest as deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, profoundly impacting daily life. Individuals with schizophrenia often display a flat affect, characterized by a near-total absence of emotional expression,...

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Measurement of Fronto-limbic Activity Using an Emotional Oddball Task in Children with Familial High Risk for Schizophrenia
13:08

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Published on: December 2, 2015

Prefrontal deviations in function but not volume are putative endophenotypes for schizophrenia.

Sheena F Owens1, Marco M Picchioni, Ulrich Ettinger

  • 1Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College, London, UK. sheena.owens@kcl.ac.uk

Brain : a Journal of Neurology
|June 14, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Schizophrenia brain imaging shows reduced prefrontal cortex grey matter in patients, but not relatives. Executive function deficits in relatives suggest they are a better endophenotype for schizophrenia risk.

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Measurement of Fronto-limbic Activity Using an Emotional Oddball Task in Children with Familial High Risk for Schizophrenia
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Standardized Data Acquisition for Neuromelanin-Sensitive Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Substantia Nigra

Published on: September 8, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychiatry
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Prefrontal cortex (PFC) grey matter volume reductions are frequently observed in schizophrenia.
  • The validity of these reductions as endophenotypes for schizophrenia remains debated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if PFC grey matter reductions are valid endophenotypes for schizophrenia.
  • To assess their presence in unaffected relatives, heritability, and genetic overlap with schizophrenia.
  • To compare these findings with neuropsychological indices of prefrontal functioning.

Main Methods:

  • Employed a combined twin and family design.
  • Examined four prefrontal cortical regions of interest.
  • Assessed grey matter volumes and prefrontal (executive) functioning.

Main Results:

  • Superior and inferior PFC regions were smaller in patients but not in unaffected relatives.
  • PFC and orbital cortex volumes were heritable but lacked genetic overlap with schizophrenia.
  • Executive function deficits were present in relatives, heritable, and genetically linked to schizophrenia liability.

Conclusions:

  • PFC grey matter reductions are unlikely to be familial endophenotypes for schizophrenia.
  • Executive function deficits in relatives appear to be a more valid endophenotype.
  • PFC volume changes may be related to illness-related factors rather than genetic predisposition.