Psychological Disorders and Neuropsyhological Relationship

Genetic rate of identical twins both having schizophrenia

48% (compared to 1% of the population)

A condition where identical twins share a placenta, and abnormal blood vessel connections cause blood/nutrient flow to be uneven between fetuses (this can cause developmental disorders for the fetus)

Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome

When a person carries the allele for a specific trait, but that trait does not get expressed

Nonpenetrance

What have neuro-developmental histological studies suggested about schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia may be caused by the disruption of brain formation during the 2nd trimester of gestation causing a failure of neurons to migrate to the correct places in the brain

Brain differences associated with individuals who have schizophrenia

1) Increased size of ventricles

2) smaller brain weight

3) enlarged sulci

4) atrophied cerebellum

5) hypo-functioning of the frontal lobe and hyper-functioning of the temporal lobe

What is frontal lobe dysfunction associated with schizophrenia?

Inability to plan, disorganization, avolition, inattention

What is temporal lobe dysfunction associated with in schizophrenia?

Poor verbal retention, reduced encoding, reduced semantic processing

What indicates worse outcomes for individuals with schizophrenia?

Worse cognitive symptoms (negative symptoms)

What is the most heritable psychiatric condition?

Bipolar disorder (79% chance among identical twins)

What brain structures likely play a role in major depression?

Left frontal lobe and left caudate nucleus

Lesioning of what brain structure can create depressive symptoms in a person with no history of depression?

Left caudate nucleus

What treatment(s) of depression have shown to change brain function?

Both medication and psychotherapy

Neuropsychological traits of someone with major depression

Reduced verbal encoding, reduced verbal fluency, slowness, and right hand motor impairment in severe cases

Why was electro convulsive therapy (ECT) first considered for patients with severe depression?

Clinicians found that patients with seizures were not as depressed following their seizures

What special population may receive ECT due to possible complications with antidepressant medication?

Those who are pregnant

What population of individuals are at risk of permanent brain damage after ECT?

Those with dementia

What chromosome is thought to be associated with the “at risk” gene for alcoholism?

Chromosome 11

What is chromosome 11 associated with?

Number of dopamine receptors (D2) in the brain

What deficits do children with alcoholic parents show before they ever start drinking?

Cognitive deficits

How does alcohol damage the brain?

Kills neurons, breaks down small blood vessels in the brain, also breaks down renal system

What brain areas are associated with conduct disorders?

Frontal lobe and left hemisphere (mostly left temporal)

What type of dysfunction is believed to cause conduct disorders?

Neurochemical dysfunction

What interesting relationship exists between those with conduct disorder?

Left handedness and ADHD

What neuropsychological findings are there with those that have conduct disorder?

1) Lower IQ

2) Lower academic achievement

3) Executive dysfunction

4) Poor self monitoring