The Effects of Schizophrenia on the Brain Essay - 901 Words

The Effects of Schizophrenia on the Brain Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness that affects one to two percent of people worldwide. The disorder can develop as early as the age of five, though it is very rare at such an early age. (3)) Most men become ill between the ages of 16 and 25 whereas most women become ill between the ages of 25 and 30. Even though there are differences in the age of development between the sexes, men and women are equally at risk for schizophrenia. (4) There is of yet no definitive answer as to what causes the disorder. It is believed to be a combination of factors including genetic make-up, pre-natal viruses, and early brain damage which cause neurotransmitter problems in the brain. (3) These†¦show more content†¦This was discovered when tests indicated that many patients better results with medications that affect the serotonin as well as the dopamine transmissions in the brain. (6) New test and machines also enabled researchers to study the structure of schizophrenic brains using Magnetic Resonance Imagery (MRI) and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS). The different lobes of affected brains were examined and compared to those of normal brains, showing several structural differences. The most common finding was the enlargement of the lateral ventricles, which are the fluid-filled sacs that surround the brain. The other differences, however, are not nearly as universal, though they are significant. There is some evidence that the volume of the brain is reduced and that the cerebral cortex is smaller. (2) Tests showed that blood flow was lower in frontal regions in afflicted people when compared to non-afflicted people. This condition has become known as hypofrontality. Other studies illustrate that people with schizophrenia often show reduced activation in frontal regions of the brain during tasks known to normally activate them. (1) Even though many tests show that the frontal lobe function performance is impaired and although there is evidence of reduced volume of some frontal lobe regions, no consistent pattern of structural degradation has yet been found.Show MoreRelatedSchizophrenia And Its Effects On The Brain866 Words   |  4 PagesSchizophrenia is a mental psychotic disorder that diminishes the ability to distinguish reality from fantasy. Schizophrenia ranges from Type I, which are positive symptoms caused by an excess of functions to Type II, which are negative symptoms caused by a loss of functions within the brain. Subtypes range from Paranoid to Disorganized schizo phrenia. A wide variety of factors can provoke anyone of these variations of schizophrenia, such as genes, an imbalance of chemicals in the brain, the deathRead MoreShedding Some Light of Schizophrenia Essay1551 Words   |  7 Pages Schizophrenia affects about 2.5 million Americans and 24 million worldwide. However, not everything is known about the mental illness. What part of the brain Schizophrenia affects and the different types of tests used to detect it. What medications have shown the best results, but what are their side effects that may come with? Is it worth the risk? Also what are all the possible ways Schizophrenia can be instigated? â€Å"New test and machines also enabled researchers to study the structureRead MoreExploring Schizophrenia Essay1397 Words   |  6 PagesExploring Schizophrenia A disease that leads to more suicide deaths than AIDS, SIDS, and MS combined is present in one in one hundred people globally. Schizophrenia is prone to lead to long-term disability, unemployment, drug and alcohol abuse, and family trauma. Ten percent of all patients commit suicide. Schizophrenia is an infamous disease attacking the American population. What is schizophrenia, how is it caused, what does it do, and who does it effect? OneRead MoreSymptoms, Causes, And Treatments Of Schizophrenia1702 Words   |  7 PagesSymptoms, Causes, and Treatments of Schizophrenia Cassidy Echalico Florida State College at Jacksonville Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments of Schizophrenia Schizophrenia is a stigmatized disease that labels victims as crazy. One percent of people develop schizophrenia in their lifetime; more than two million Americans suffer from schizophrenia in a given year (Spearing, 1999). Although schizophrenia affects men and women equally, it often appears earlier in men than in women; Men are generally affectedRead MoreA Beautiful Mind Is A Movie Based On The Life Of Mathematician1310 Words   |  6 Pagesbeautiful mind is a movie based on the life of Mathematician Dr. John Nash. Through Dr. Nash, I will explore the causes, effects, and treatment of paranoid schizophrenia. To begin to understand this disorder of paranoid Schizophrenia we need to know how this debilitating mental disorder works. Schizophrenia is a long-lasting, severe and disabling mental disorder. Normally, schizophrenia victims experience non-existent external voices. At times people suffering from this condition may find themselves toRead MoreIs Schizophrenia A Mental Diseas e?1242 Words   |  5 Pages Schizophrenia A normal person is able to go about their day without any problems at all, however, for a person with schizophrenia, their day may be next to impossible. The voices playing throughout that person’s head all the time distracts them from their everyday activities. Their reality is much different than a person without this disorder. Schizophrenia is a mental disease that affects many and can become very serious if not handled correctly; if more research is done on this disease thenRead MoreEssay about The Dopamine Hypothesis of Schizophrenia1358 Words   |  6 PagesThe Dopamine Hypothesis of Schizophrenia Schizophrenia is a disease that has plagued societies around the world for centuries, although it was not given its formal name until 1911. It is characterized by the presence of positive and negative symptoms. Positive symptoms are so named because of the presence of altered behaviors, such as delusions, hallucinations (usually auditory), extreme emotions, excited motor activity, and incoherent thoughts and speech. (1,2) In contrast, negative symptomsRead More Schizophrenia Essay1439 Words   |  6 PagesSchizophrenia Schizophrenia is a debilitating mental disorder characterized by a dysfunctional thinking process and withdrawal from the outside world. The word schizophrenia comes from two Greek words schizo which means split and phrenia, which means mind. This doesnt mean that a person with the disorder has multiple personalities, but rather parts of the mind seem to be operating independent of each other. The disease affects approximately 1 in 100 people and there are thought to be overRead MoreSymptoms And Symptoms Of Antipsychotic Medication1497 Words   |  6 Pages Because schizophrenia manifests itself as a blend of a thought disorder, a mood disorder, and an anxiety disorder, a mixture of antipsychotic, antidepressant, and antianxiety medication is used to treat it. One main type of antipsychotic medication is traditional, such as chlorpromazine, haloperidol, and fluphenazine. These medications have been present since the 1950 s, and they are most effective for treating positive sympto ms because they block the dopamine receptors. Dopamine is a neurotransmitterRead MoreSymptoms And Symptoms Of Schizophrenia881 Words   |  4 PagesSchizophrenia Pathophysiology Schizophrenia is a very complex disorder, and it is said that it involves irregulation of multiple pathways. It is believed that schizophrenics have an abnormal level of dopamine in their brains. Serotonin, GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) and glutamate may also play a role. Deficits in acetylcholine muscarinic receptors have been identified in individuals with schizophrenia. â€Å"Evidence from genetic, post-mortem and animal studies over the past decade has identified a