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Genetics, Schizophrenia, and Your Family Tree

Schizophrenia is a mental illness that has been mentioned quite a bit in the news lately, in the wake of the violence that recently took place in Arizona. While there is much that still needs to be discovered about the genetics behind schizophrenia, there are some things that are known. This is a mental illness that can, potentially, run in families. Genealogists who are making medical family trees should make note of any ancestors who suffered from schizophrenia. There are several symptoms that are connected with schizophrenia. Physical symptoms may include: a blank facial expression, involuntary movements of the face, … Continue reading →

Prenatal Stress and Schizophrenia

Researchers have now uncovered a conclusive link between extreme stress during the early stages of pregnancy and the development of schizophrenia in the children of those mothers in later life. Schizophrenia is a complex disorder of the brain and is commonly passed down through the family chain, thus indicating a genetic link for the condition. Drugs usage and life stresses can also promote the development of schizophrenia in susceptible adults. But a recent study at New York University’s School of Medicine has proven conclusively that wartime stress is a trigger for the development of the condition in later life. Other … Continue reading →

Schizophrenia and VCFS

Never heard of VCFS? You’re not alone. VCFS (Velo-cardio-facial syndrome) is a relatively rare illness affecting one in 5000 children and can remain undiagnosed for years, putting strain on both sufferers and their families. The interesting aspect of this condition for researchers is that children with VCFS have an almost one in three chance of developing schizophrenia, the latter generally first manifesting between the ages of 15 and 25. VCFS has been a subject of genetic studies and has been isolated to an abnormality on chromosome 22, which in turn assists researchers in the area of schizophrenia to better understand … Continue reading →

Childhood schizophrenia

Any parent would be concerned if their child was experiencing voices or seeing objects or people that weren’t really there. Where there is disturbed social interaction, the presence of a voice or voices speaking in negative terms to and about the child, in conjunction with evidence of the child talking to him or herself, there could be cause for a diagnosis of childhood schizophrenia. Schizophrenia can be difficult to positively diagnose in adolescence and young adulthood. It is even more fraught with difficulties when dealing with young children. The age of the child and stage of development must be considered … Continue reading →

The minefield of schizophrenia (2)

In this blog, we continue with simple, concise explanations of much of the language and terminology used by mental health professionals in the treatment of schizophrenia. • Hearing voices A type of hallucination in which the sufferer hears voices, or hears his or her own thoughts actually spoken aloud, or other sounds that no-one else can hear. Often several voices may occur at once, causing acute stress for the sufferer. The voices are invariable negative in tone. • Maintenance therapy Treatment which is aimed at the reduction of relapse and may include regular hospital in-patient admissions in an attempt to … Continue reading →

The minefield of schizophrenia (1)

Having a family member diagnosed with schizophrenia is distressing enough, but having to deal with the terminology and language of schizophrenia can be a nightmare in its own right. Here is a short glossary of terms that are frequently used by mental health professionals to describe the common characteristics of this puzzling and disturbing illness. • Acute episode The period of the illness when severe symptoms, including hallucinations and delusions, are experienced. • Affect A synonym for “mood” and refers to the outward expression of emotion. Persons suffering from schizophrenia may be described as having “flat effect” meaning that little … Continue reading →

Schizophrenia: Diagnostic Symptoms

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Schizophrenia is a very complex disorder and affects many or all of the functions that we rely on to successfully get through each day. The condition typically includes delusions (irrational beliefs) and hallucinations (sensory experiences in the absence of actual events). Schizophrenia is also one of the disorders that include psychotic episodes. We will look at a couple of case studies of people suffering from this disorder in future blogs. Meanwhile, we will look at the symptomology of this puzzling and tragic illness. The DSM-IV-TR lists the following criteria for a positive diagnosis of schizophrenia: 1. Two or more of … Continue reading →

What is Schizophrenia?

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The public misconception of a schizophrenia sufferer as having a “split personality” has been pushed by Hollywood and novelists alike. Sufferers of this serious mental illness do not possess dual personalities, but the unfortunate stigma that is attached to schizophrenia and mental illness in general often precludes the general public having a thorough understanding of what this complex condition is all about. Schizophrenia affects roughly one in every hundred people, so it is hardly a rare illness. This proportion is consistent around the world, occurring in similar ratios in all races and socio-economic groups. It is no respecter of status … Continue reading →

FDA Approves Adasuve

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug called Adasuve. It was created by Alexza Pharmaceuticals Inc., and is used to treat schitzophrenia and bipolar disorder. It is the first drug to treat those disorders that can be inhaled. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have approved a drug called Adasuve. According to Reuters this drug delivers loxapine, which is an older antipsychotic drug, via being inhaled. Adasuve passes through the lungs and into the blood stream faster than a pill. Right now, Loxapine is only available as an oral medication. The drug is used to treat schizophrenia and … Continue reading →

Could Childhood Mental Disorders Be Triggered by Strep?

In the mid 1990’s, doctors began noticing that some children who had strep ended up showing symptoms of sudden onset mental illness after recovering from the strep infection. This has led some doctors to wonder if antibiotics could help alleviate those disorders. It is an interesting concept. The strange situation happens something like this. A child, who has no signs or symptoms of any form of mental illness, catches a strep infection. He or she gets a case of strep throat, goes to the doctor, and is treated. The child misses a few days of school, but makes a full … Continue reading →