Understanding the Abnormalities of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia
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1 Discuss the etiology, course, and structural/functional abnormalities of schizophrenia.
Etiology
Schizophrenia is secondary to multiple factors involving a single or combination of perinatal, genetic, neuroanatomical, and biochemical abnormalities. It can also be affected by sociopsychological and environmental factors that heighten the possibility of incurring the disease. This is most especially evident in urban communities, migrants, and ethnic minorities (Ayano, 2016). The following are the most important factors implicated:
Genetic Factors
The disorder is evident among family members, particularly with the first-degree consanguinity. These people have a 10% lifetime risk of incurring the disorder. There is a 40% risk of passage of the gene if both parents incur the disorder. There is a 10% and 40 to 50% risk for dizygotic and monozygotic twins in twins, respectively. The mechanism is unknown. However, the most commonly associated genetic loci are as follows: 1q, 5q, 6p, 6q, 8p, 10p, 13q, 15q, and 22q. Some of the recent chromosomal sites of interest include COMT, RGS 4, NRG 1, G 72, DISC 1, GRM 3, DTNBP1, and COMT. Furthermore, studies have shown that increasing paternal age predisposes him to transmit the gene (Ayano, 2016).
Biochemical Factors
These factors are related to neurotransmission. Some of the neurotransmitters (NT) implicated in schizophrenia are serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine), gamma-aminobutyric acid, glutamate, and norepinephrine. The specific functions of these NT are as follows: 1) Excess serotonin results in the variation in the positive and negative manifestations of the disorder.; 2) Cognitive problems are associated with reduced glutamate and NMDA receptors; 3) There is a heightened stimulation to dopamine receptors with reduced inhibition to the GABAergic receptors.; 4) Norepinephrine is related to the reward system. Therefore, a reduction to this NT results in anhedonia (Ayano, 2016).
Clinical Course
Different people present with varying courses of the disorder. Depending on the influencing factors, patients can have a gradual course that extends for several months to years before the symptoms become severe. Others can present with sudden symptoms that occur w...