WK10- Schizophrenia - intro

What is schizophrenia?

A highly debilitating mental health disorder characterised by episodes of psychosis (distortions in perception, disorganised behaviour)

What are the three types of symptoms in schizophrenia?

Positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms

What are positive symptoms of schizophrenia?

Hallucinations, delusions, thought insertion, disorganised speech/behaviour, agitation, catatonia (things ADDED to normal experience)

What are negative symptoms of schizophrenia?

Flat affect, low mood, loss of motivation, social withdrawal, anhedonia, poor self-care, speech deficits (things LOST from normal experience)

What are cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia?

Impaired working memory, loss of attention, impaired decision-making

What is the prevalence of schizophrenia?

0.3-0.7% of the population

What is the lifetime risk of schizophrenia?

Approximately 1%

What is the typical age of onset for schizophrenia?

Late adolescence / early adulthood (15-25 years)

Is schizophrenia equally common in males and females?

Yes, but females typically have later onset

How much is life expectancy reduced in schizophrenia?

20-30 years (50% greater mortality)

What are the main causes of reduced life expectancy in schizophrenia?

Cardiovascular risk, lifestyle, suicide

What percentage of schizophrenia risk is genetic?

70-80%

What percentage of schizophrenia risk is environmental?

20-30%

What is the concordance rate for schizophrenia in identical twins?

Approximately 50%

What is the concordance rate for schizophrenia in non-identical twins?

Approximately 20%

What is the risk for a sibling of a person with schizophrenia?

Approximately 10%

What are environmental risk factors for schizophrenia?

Prenatal factors (maternal viral infection, birth trauma), neurodevelopmental abnormalities, stressful life events, urban environment

What types of genes are implicated in schizophrenia?

Receptors, ion channels, transcription factors, structural proteins, protein turnover, epigenetics – all involved in neuronal development and synaptic organisation

What neurotransmitters are imbalanced in schizophrenia?

Dopamine, glutamate, acetylcholine, serotonin, GABA