What is the underlying pathophysiology of schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a complex disorder involving dysregulation of multiple pathways in its pathophysiology. Dopaminergic, glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmitter systems are affected in schizophrenia and interactions between these receptors contribute to the pathophysiology of the disease.

What are the three major phenomena associated with schizophrenia?

Major issues in schizophrenia research concern the cognitive and neural basis of hallucinations, abnormalities in cognitive-emotional processing, social cognition (including theory of mind), poor awareness of illness, and apathy. Recent findings from cognitive neuroscience studies in these areas are discussed.

What are the physiological factors of schizophrenia?

Research suggests schizophrenia may be caused by a change in the level of 2 neurotransmitters: dopamine and serotonin. Some studies indicate an imbalance between the 2 may be the basis of the problem. Others have found a change in the body’s sensitivity to the neurotransmitters is part of the cause of schizophrenia.

What is the development of schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia can develop later in life. Late-onset schizophrenia is diagnosed after the person is 45. People who have it are more likely to have symptoms like delusions and hallucinations. They’re less like to have negative symptoms, disorganized thoughts, impaired learning, or trouble understanding information.

How is the pathophysiology of schizophrenia still debated?

The Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia. The etiology of schizophrenia is still widely debated, however we can say with a few hundred research studies worth of security that the physiological expression of the disorder is due mainly to disruptions in neurotransmitter function and abnormal neurological structures.

How is the pathophysiology of schizophrenia related to dopamine?

Pathophysiologically, positive symptoms of schizophrenia are related to the function of a combination of neurotransmitters, primarily the overproduction of dopamine or inhibition of dopamine reuptake.

How does schizophrenia reduce the volume of gray matter?

Symptomatically, reductions in the volume of gray matter are manifested through the expression of mainly positive symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, psychotic thinking and depression.

What are the signs and symptoms of catatonic schizophrenia?

Catatonic Schizophrenia is characterized by disturbance of movements that may include rigidity, stupor, agitation, bizarre posturing, and repetitive imitations of movemnts or speech of other people. The patient are at risk for malnutrition, exhaustion or self-injury.