Schizophrenia and Related Concepts

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to schizophrenia and its symptoms, diagnosis, and underlying genetic factors.

Lithium

A GSK3 inhibitor and Wnt pathway modulator that is also an ion and an IP3 pathway modulator.

Benzodiazepine

A pharmaceutical that binds to the GABAa receptor at a different site than the GABA binding site and does not inhibit GABA effects.

Schizophrenia

A chronic and severe brain disease characterized by profound disruptions in cognition, emotion, language, thought, perception, and sense of self.

Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Symptoms that reflect an excess or distortion of normal functions, such as delusions and hallucinations.

Delusions

False beliefs commonly seen in schizophrenia, where the patient believes they are being followed or watched.

Hallucinations

Sensory perceptions that have no external stimuli, often experienced as voices or visual distortions.

Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Symptoms that reflect a reduction or loss of normal functions, such as lack of emotion, low energy, and social withdrawal.

Affective Flattening

Reduction in the range and intensity of emotional expression, including facial expressions and body language.

Avolition

The reduction or inability to initiate and persist in goal-directed behavior, often seen in schizophrenia.

Disorganized Symptoms

Thought disorder characterized by confusion, disorientation, and memory problems.

Cognitive Symptoms

Difficulties in concentration and memory; includes disorganized thinking and poor memory.

Diagnosis of Schizophrenia

Based primarily on clinical symptoms as there are no definitive physical or lab tests for diagnosis.

Heritable Risk

The likelihood of developing schizophrenia based on genetic relationship; varies by relation from 1% in the general population to 50% in identical twins.

Neuropathology of Schizophrenia

Includes small reductions in brain volume, enlargement of ventricles, and abnormalities in cortical thickness.

Copy Number Variations (CNV)

Deletions or duplications of DNA segments associated with increased risk of schizophrenia.

Linkage Studies

Research investigating genetic linkage and risk variants related to psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia.