Amanda Bynes Shows Signs of <b>Schizophrenia</b> - VladTV

Jul 25, 2013 | 12:30 AM    Written By: Mike Hughes

Amanda Bynes is currently being held at a mental institution under close observation, and according to TMZ, doctors and those close to her claim that she is showing signs that she may possibly be suffering from schizophrenia.  She was taken into custody on Monday night, July 22nd, after starting a fire in an elderly woman’s driveway in Thousand Oaks, CA.  

The medical staff at the institution she’s being held at reportedly will seek to have a 2 week extension set in place in order to have more time to properly diagnose Amanda.  TMZ claims that sources have told them that her parents are going to seek a guardian for her, for they feel as though she may be a threat to the public and herself.

Source: TMZ

All About <b>Schizophrenia</b> | Psych Central

Schizophrenia occurs in about 1 percent of the general U.S. population. That means that more than 3 million Americans suffer from the illness.

The disorder manifests itself in a broad range of unusual behaviors, which cause profound disruption in the lives of the patients suffering from the condition and in the lives of the people around them. Schizophrenia strikes without regard to gender, race, social class or culture.

One of the most important kinds of impairment caused by schizophrenia involves the person’s thought processes. The individual can lose much of the ability to rationally evaluate his surroundings and interactions with others.

There can be hallucinations and delusions, which reflect distortions in the perception and interpretation of reality. The resulting behaviors may seem bizarre to the casual observer, even though they may be consistent with the schizophrenic’s abnormal perceptions and beliefs.

Nearly one-third of those diagnosed with schizophrenia will attempt suicide. About 10 percent of those with the diagnosis will commit suicide within 20 years of the beginning of the disorder.

Patients with schizophrenia are not likely to share their suicidal intentions with others, making life-saving interventions more difficult. The risk of depression needs special mention due to the high rate of suicide in these patients.

The most significant risk of suicide in schizophrenia is among males under 30 who have some symptoms of depression and a relatively recent hospital discharge. Other risks include imagined voices directing the patient toward self-harm (auditory command hallucinations) and intense false beliefs (delusions).

The relationship of schizophrenia to substance abuse is significant. Due to impairments in insight and judgment, people with schizophrenia may be less able to judge and control the temptations and resulting difficulties associated with drug or alcohol abuse.

In addition, it is not uncommon for people suffering from this disorder to try to “self-medicate” their otherwise debilitating symptoms with mind-altering drugs. The abuse of such substances, most commonly nicotine, alcohol, cocaine and marijuana, impedes treatment and recovery.

The chronic abuse of cigarettes among schizophrenic patients is well-documented and probably related to the mind-altering effects of nicotine. Some researchers believe that nicotine affects brain chemical systems that are disrupted in schizophrenia; others speculate that nicotine counters some of the unwanted reactions to medications used to treat the disease.

It is not uncommon for people diagnosed with schizophrenia to die prematurely from other medical conditions, such as coronary artery disease and lung disease. It is unclear whether schizophrenic patients are genetically predisposed to these physical illnesses or whether such illnesses result from unhealthy lifestyles associated with schizophrenia.

APA Reference

Bengston, M. (2006). All About Schizophrenia. Psych Central.

Retrieved on July 25, 2013, from http://psychcentral.com/lib/all-about-schizophrenia/000704

    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 30 Jan 2013
    Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.

Amanda Bynes -- Signs of <b>Schizophrenia</b> | TMZ.com

Amanda Bynes
Signs of Schizophrenia

Exclusive

Amanda Bynes is exhibiting signs of schizophrenia … and medical professionals and others WILL seek a 2-week extension on her 5150 psychiatric hold so doctors can properly diagnose her … sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ.

We’re told … ever since Amanda was taken into custody Monday night — after she lit a fire on an elderly woman’s driveway in Thousand Oaks, CA — people close to Bynes are convinced she’s suffering from mental illness, specifically schizophrenia.

Sources tell us … Amanda’s parents will now ask a judge to put the 27-year-old in a conservatorship, a la Britney Spears, because they believe she is unable to care for herself and could be a danger to others.

Amanda’s parents have wanted to take action for the past couple of months — but they didn’t have the goods because Amanda’s conduct was not so over the line that a judge would take away her freedom.

Now, after the driveway fire incident … the circumstances may have changed enough to convince a judge Amanda needs help and supervision.

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Amanda Bynes Reportedly Displaying Signs Of <b>Schizophrenia</b> <b>...</b>

This does not sound good.

While one source has revealed that Amanda Bynes has been “doing well” throughout her 5150 hold and “knows when to…act normal,” it seems that might not actually be the case.

Following the troubled actress’ run-in with the law — from bong-throwing to her latest fire-on-lawn incident — medical officials will reportedly seek a two week extension on her evaluation as Amanda is allegedly believed to be displaying symptoms of schizophrenia.

We only hope that Amanda gets the help she needs. What with this evaluation and her parents’ request for conservatorship, this might just be what she needs.

As long as all parties act in her best interest.

[Image via TNYF/WENN.]

Tags: 2 week extension, 5150 hold, amanda bynes, conservatorship, hospital, legal matters, parents, sad sad, schizophrenia, sick

Amanda Bynes <b>schizophrenia</b> fears | Stuff.co.nz

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Amanda Bynes is reportedly displaying signs of schizophrenia.

How A Family Copes With <b>Schizophrenia</b> And Suicide

Homer Bell’s family, left to right: sister Laura Bell, sister Regina Bell, mother Rosalind Scott and stepfather Jack Wilcox.

Homer Bell was 54 years old when he killed himself in April in a very public way he laid down his head in front of a stopped bus in his hometown of Hartford, Conn. It was the last act in a life filled with struggle, as Bell and his family endured his schizophrenia.

At a time when there are calls to strengthen the mental health system, Bell’s story shows how hard coping with mental illness can be.

Harold Schwartz, the psychiatrist in chief for Hartford Hospital’s Institute of Living, describes some of the difficulties for a family: It’s hard to get help, provide a home, and give the right kind of support. Bell’s struggle to deal with the frightening voices in his head led to outbursts of anger, and even some run-ins with the police.

Rosalind Scott, Bell’s mother, says he was living on the streets and had gone to a hospital for help. In the days after his release, he showed up repeatedly on her porch. One night she let him into the hallway to get warm. But it was hard to let him in farther. Homer could be loud, he could be angry, he could be paranoid. His illness had exhausted her.

One or two nights later when Homer came back, his mother was tired and, wanting relief, she didn’t let him in. She explains why:

Laura Bell, Homer’s sister, jumps in to comfort her mother. “It wasn’t your fault,” she tells her.

After the death and the funeral, Scott went through her voice mails. She had dozens. And then she heard Homer’s voice and stopped. “That’s when he apologized to the family,” she says.

Scott says she has a particular regret.

Psychiatrist Schwartz has been a part of the conversation about Connecticut’s mental health system that has gained new urgency since the school shootings in Newtown. He says a lot of attention is now being paid to identifying young people with emotional struggles who need help, but when it comes to helping people like Bell the homeless, chronically mentally ill adult living in the community he sees less movement.

And in some cases wisdom, patience and compassion aren’t enough. He says sometimes suicidal intent is a terminal disease.

It’s a reality, Schwartz says, that for Bell’s family and for many others can be hard to hear.

This piece is part of a collaboration with NPR, WNPR and Kaiser Health News.

Copyright 2013 Connecticut Public Radio. To see more, visit http://www.wnpr.org.

<b>Schizophrenia</b> and Violence | Psych Central

News and entertainment media tend to link mental illness and criminal violence; however, studies indicate that except for those persons with a record of criminal violence before becoming ill, and those with substance abuse or alcohol problems, people with schizophrenia are not especially prone to violence.

Most individuals with schizophrenia are not violent; more typically, they are withdrawn and prefer to be left alone. Most violent crimes are not committed by persons with schizophrenia, and most persons with schizophrenia do not commit violent crimes.

Substance abuse significantly raises the rate of violence in people with schizophrenia but also in people who do not have any mental illness. People with paranoid and psychotic symptoms, which can become worse if medications are discontinued, may also be at higher risk for violent behavior. When violence does occur, it is most frequently targeted at family members and friends, and more often takes place at home.

APA Reference

Mental Health, N. (2006). Schizophrenia and Violence. Psych Central.

Retrieved on July 24, 2013, from http://psychcentral.com/lib/schizophrenia-and-violence/000711

    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 30 Jan 2013
    Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.

<b>Schizophrenia</b> Fact Sheet | Psych Central

Speak the word “schizophrenia” and you’ll likely receive reactions peppered with misunderstanding and fear. The disorder is largely shrouded in myths, stereotypes and stigma. For instance, many equate schizophrenia with violence and criminals. But schizophrenia sufferers aren’t likelier to be violent than others, unless they have a criminal history before becoming sick or unless they abuse alcohol and drugs (see Schizophrenia and Violence). Also, despite its etymology and its portrayal in movies, schizophrenia isn’t a split personality: It literally means “split mind.”

Schizophrenia is a chronic, debilitating disorder, characterized by an inability to distinguish between what is real and what isn’t. A person with schizophrenia experiences hallucinations and delusional thoughts and is unable to think rationally, communicate properly, make decisions or remember information. To the public, a sufferer’s behavior might seem odd or outrageous. Not surprisingly, the disorder can ruin relationships and negatively affect work, school and everyday activities.

About one-third of individuals with schizophrenia attempt suicide. Fortunately, however, schizophrenia is treatable with both medication and therapy, making it imperative to recognize the symptoms and receive the correct diagnosis. The earlier a person is accurately diagnosed, the sooner he or she can start an effective treatment plan.

What Causes Schizophrenia?

As with other psychological disorders, it’s believed that schizophrenia is a complex interplay of genetics, biology (brain chemistry and structure) and environment.

• 
  Genetics: Schizophrenia typically runs in families, so it’s likely the disorder is inherited. If an identical twin has schizophrenia, the other twin is 50 percent more likely to have the disorder. That also points out the likelihood of other causes: If schizophrenia were purely genetic, both identical twins always would have the disorder.
  


• 
  Brain chemistry and structure: Neurotransmitters—chemicals in the brain, including dopamine and glutamate, that communicate between neurons—are believed to play a role. There also is evidence to suggest that the brains of individuals with schizophrenia are different from those of healthy individuals (for details, see Keshavan, Tandon, Boutros & Nasrallah, 2008).
  


• 
  Environment: Some research points to child abuse, early traumatic events, severe stress, negative life events and living in an urban environment as contributing factors. Additional causes include physical and psychological complications during pregnancy, such as viral infection, malnutrition and the mother’s stress.

What Are the Different Types of Schizophrenia?

• 
  Paranoid schizophrenia is characterized by auditory hallucinations and delusions about persecution or conspiracy. However, unlike those who have other subtypes of the disease, these individuals show relatively normal cognitive functioning.
  


• 
  Disorganized schizophrenia is a disruption of thought processes, so much so that daily activities (e.g., showering, brushing teeth) are impaired. Sufferers frequently exhibit inappropriate or erratic emotions. For instance, they might laugh at a sad occasion. Also, their speech becomes disorganized and nonsensical.
  


• 
  Catatonic schizophrenia involves a disturbance in movement. Some might stop moving (catatonic stupor) or experience radically increased movement (catatonic excitement). Also, these individuals might assume odd positions, continuously repeat what others are saying (echolalia) or imitate another person’s movement (echopraxia).
  


• 
  Undifferentiated schizophrenia includes several symptoms from the above types, but the symptoms don’t exactly fit the criteria for the other kinds of schizophrenia.
  


• 
  Residual schizophrenia is diagnosed when a person no longer exhibits symptoms or these symptoms aren’t as severe.

What Are the Risk Factors for Schizophrenia?

Recent research identified five risk factors for teens, which are similar in adults:

1. Schizophrenia in the family


2. Unusual thoughts


3. Paranoia or suspicion


4. Social impairment


5. Substance abuse

Symptoms of Schizophrenia

There are three types of symptoms in schizophrenia: positive, negative and cognitive.

1. 
   Positive (symptoms that should not be present)
   
   
   
   • Hallucinations (something a person sees, smells, hears and feels that isn’t really there). The most common hallucination in schizophrenia is hearing voices.
     
   
   
   • Delusions (a false belief that isn’t true)
   
   
   
   


2. 
   Negative (symptoms that should be present)
   
   
   
   • Flat (individuals show no emotion) or inappropriate affect (e.g., giggling at a funeral)
     
   
   
   • Avolition (little interest or drive). This can mean little interest in daily activities, such as personal hygiene.
   
   
   
   

   These symptoms often are harder to recognize, because they’re so subtle.
   

   
   


3. 
   Cognitive symptoms (associated with thinking)

• 
  Disorganized speech (the person isn’t making any sense)
  


• 
  Grossly disorganized or catatonic (unresponsive) behavior
  


• 
  Inability to remember things
  


• 
  Poor executive functioning (a person is unable to process information and make decisions)

How Is Schizophrenia Diagnosed?

To diagnose schizophrenia, a trained mental health professional conducts a face-to-face clinical interview, asking detailed questions about family health history and the individual’s symptoms.
Though there isn’t a medical exam for schizophrenia, doctors typically order medical tests to rule out any health conditions or substance abuse that might mimic schizophrenia symptoms.

According to the DSM-IV-TR, the standard reference book mental health professionals use to help make diagnoses, medical conditions that can imitate symptoms of schizophrenia include: neurological conditions (e.g., Huntington’s disease, epilepsy, auditory nerve injury); endocrine conditions (e.g., hyper- or hypothyroidism); metabolic conditions (e.g., hypoglycemia); and renal (kidney) diseases.

What Treatments Exist for Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia can be successfully managed with medication and psychotherapy. For the majority of schizophrenia sufferers, medication is highly effective in controlling symptoms. However, finding the right medication can take time; each medication affects each person differently. Patients typically try several medications before finding the best one for them.

It’s important to discuss the details of each medication’s risks and benefits with your doctor, take the medication as prescribed and never stop taking your medication without first talking to the doctor.

What Kinds of Medications Are Used for Schizophrenia?

• 
  Typical antipsychotics. Available since the mid-1950s, these older antipsychotics used to be the first line of treatment, because they successfully reduced hallucinations and delusions. These include: haloperidol (Haldol), chlorpromazine (Thorazine), perphenazine (Etrafon, Trilafon) and fluphenzine (Prolixin).
  

  Many patients stop taking their medication because of its extrapyramidal side effects. “Extrapyramidal” actions are those that affect movement, such as muscle spasms, cramps, fidgeting and pacing.

  
  

  Taking typical antipsychotics long-term can cause tardive dyskinesia—involuntary, random movements of the body, such as facial grimacing and movements of the mouth, tongue and legs. Because of these side effects, atypical antipsychotics largely have replaced traditional antipsychotics.
  

  
  


• 
  Atypical antipsychotics. Developed in the 1990s, these medications have become the standard treatment for schizophrenia. That’s because they effectively control positive symptoms and help treat negative symptoms without the same side effects as traditional antipsychotics. They include: aripiprazole (Abilify), risperidone (Risperdal), olanzapine (Zyprexa), quetiapine (Seroquel), clozapine (Clozaril), olanzapine/fluoxetine (Symbyax), and ziprasidone (Geodon).
  

  Though they rarely cause extrapyramidal complications, each atypical antipsychotic comes with its own side effects. For instance, though effective and much cheaper than other atypicals, clozapine can cause agranulocytosis — a condition that leaves the bone marrow unable to produce enough white blood cells to fight off infection. The newer antipsychotics don’t cause agranulocytosis, but they do cause significant weight gain and increase the risk for diabetes, which can have serious health complications.

  
  

Psychotherapy

When combined with medication, psychotherapy can be a valuable tool in managing schizophrenia. Therapy facilitates medication adherence, social skills, goal setting, support and everyday functioning. Different types of psychotherapy benefit patients in different ways.

Illness management helps patients become an expert on their disorder, so they learn more about their symptoms, the warning signs of a potential relapse, various treatment options and coping strategies. The goal is for patients to be actively involved in their treatment.

Rehabilitation gives patients the tools to be independent and navigate everyday life by teaching them social, vocational and financial skills. Patients learn how to manage money, cook and communicate better. There are many different types of rehabilitation programs.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps patients develop techniques to challenge their thoughts, ignore the voices in their heads and overcome apathy.

Family education provides families with the tools to help and support their loved one. Families gain a deeper understanding of schizophrenia and learn coping strategies and other skills to prevent relapses and bolster treatment adherence.

Family therapy aims to reduce familial stress by teaching relatives how to discuss problems immediately, brainstorm solutions and pick the best one. Families who participate in therapy significantly decrease the chances of their loved one relapsing.

Group therapy offers a supportive environment that fosters discussion of real-life problems and their solutions, encourages social interaction and minimizes isolation.

Hospitalization

A person with schizophrenia might require hospitalization if he or she is experiencing severe delusions or hallucinations, suicidal thoughts, problems with substance abuse or any other potentially dangerous or self-harmful issues.

What Do I Do Next?

Learning about schizophrenia is an important first step in finding help. If you would like to learn more about schizophrenia, check out Psych Central’s guide to the disorder.

If you think you have schizophrenia (or your loved one might), the next step is to seek an evaluation by a trained mental health professional. To find a therapist near you, use Psych Central’s therapist locator, ask your physician or consult a community mental health clinic for a referral.

Further Reading

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

Tardive Dyskinesia

National Institute of Mental Health

Helpguide, Rotary Club of Santa Monica

Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S. is an Associate Editor at Psych Central and blogs regularly about eating and self-image issues on her own blog, Weightless.

APA Reference

Tartakovsky, M. (2009). Schizophrenia Fact Sheet. Psych Central.

Retrieved on July 24, 2013, from http://psychcentral.com/lib/schizophrenia-fact-sheet/0001570

    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 30 Jan 2013
    Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.

<b>Schizophrenia</b> and Genetics: Research Update | Psych Central

Fortunately, we’ve come a long way since the theory that less-than-affectionate mothers cause schizophrenia. Today, it’s widely accepted that a complex interplay of genes and environment contributes to schizophrenia, which affects about one percent of the population and is characterized by cognitive dysfunction, delusions and hallucinations.

Researchers have made significant strides in teasing apart schizophrenia’s convoluted genetic vulnerabilities, but there’s still a slew of questions. Even with sophisticated technology, researchers are still left scratching their heads about the specifics: what genes are involved, how they incur risk, whether certain mutations link to the different subtypes and so on. Below is a discussion of how genetic research has evolved and what we know today.

Early Research: Family, Twin & Adoption Studies

To determine whether genetics plays any role in schizophrenia, decades ago, researchers began by looking at the prevalence of the disorder in families along with fraternal and identical twins. As many already know, these studies showed that schizophrenia runs in families and has a high heritability rate among identical twins, upward of 80 percent.

What does heritability mean exactly? According to Anna Need, Ph.D, schizophrenia researcher and assistant professor in the Center for Human Genome Variation at Duke University, it tells us that in those particular studies, roughly 80 percent of the variance can be explained by genetics.

Adoption studies are another avenue for answers. This research revealed that kids whose biological parents are schizophrenic (whether the onset was before or after the adoption) were at an elevated risk for psychosis. But kids adopted into families where one of the adoptive parents has schizophrenia were not at an increased risk for developing schizophrenia.

Linkage Studies

Linkage studies explore regions of chromosomes within large families affected by schizophrenia and compare these families to those untouched by the disorder. According to Need, “although some loci have more evidence than others, no chromosomal region has been consistently implicated through linkage studies.” Researchers have either reported different results or others have refuted their findings.

Part of the problem may be that linkage studies typically combine families because families affected by schizophrenia usually don’t have many members. This may confound results, Need said, because it may be that there are “strong [genetic] contributors but they’re different in different families, [so] when you try to combine different studies, they don’t replicate.”

Two fairly recent genome scan meta-analyses did find some significance on several chromosomes. One meta-analysis, which looked at 20 different genome-wide datasets, identified a region on chromosome 2q. The second meta-analysis of 32 studies confirmed a region on chromosome 2q and also on chromosome 5q. These researchers conducted another analysis on 22 studies with samples of European descent and found potential linkage on chromosome 8q. Still, these chromosome regions are very large and have hundreds of genes.

“What we know for sure is there isn’t one or a few causes. That’s all we can say for linkage studies,” Need said.

Candidate Gene Studies

In candidate gene studies, “researchers select individual genes that make sense biologically, or because they are in linkage regions, or both,” Need said. Then they look for differences in the frequency of different variants in people with schizophrenia and without.

However, “these types of studies can be confounded by population differences between cases and controls, small sample size and positive publication bias. Few if any of the hundreds of genes implicated in candidate gene studies are likely to have real effects.”

The Schizophrenia Gene Resource is a database of all the genes implicated in schizophrenia. Currently, the number of genes implicated by candidate gene studies is 281 (here’s the list).

Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S. is an Associate Editor at Psych Central and blogs regularly about eating and self-image issues on her own blog, Weightless.

APA Reference

Tartakovsky, M. (2011). Schizophrenia and Genetics: Research Update. Psych Central.

Retrieved on July 24, 2013, from http://psychcentral.com/lib/schizophrenia-and-genetics-research-update/0008736

    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 30 Jan 2013
    Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.

What Causes <b>Schizophrenia</b>? | Psych Central

The causes of schizophrenia, like all mental disorders, are not completely understood or known at this time.

There is no known single cause of schizophrenia. Many diseases, such as heart disease, result from an interplay of genetic, behavioral and other factors, and this may be the case for schizophrenia as well. Scientists do not yet understand all of the factors necessary to produce, but all the tools of modern biomedical research are being used to search for genes, critical moments in brain development, and other factors that may lead to the illness.

Can Schizophrenia Be Inherited?

It has been long understood that schizophrenia runs in families. People who have a close relative with schizophrenia are more likely to develop the disorder than are people who have no relatives with the illness. A child whose parent has schizophrenia has about a 10 percent chance of developing schizophrenia themselves. A monozygotic (identical) twin of a person with schizophrenia has the highest risk — a 40 to 65 percent chance of developing the illness. People who have second-degree relatives (aunts, uncles, grandparents, or cousins) with the disease also develop schizophrenia more often than the general population. By comparison, the risk of schizophrenia in the general population is about 1 percent.

Scientists are continuing to study and better understand the genetic factors related to schizophrenia. We inherit our genes from both parents. Scientists believe several genes are associated with an increased risk of schizophrenia, but that no gene causes the disease by itself. In fact, recent research has found that people with schizophrenia tend to have higher rates of rare genetic mutations. These genetic differences involve hundreds of different genes and probably disrupt brain development.

In addition, factors such as prenatal difficulties like intrauterine starvation or viral infections, perinatal complications, and various nonspecific stressors, seem to influence the development of schizophrenia. However, it is not yet understood how the genetic predisposition is transmitted, and it cannot yet be accurately predicted whether a given person will or will not develop the disorder.

Other recent studies suggest that schizophrenia may result in part when a certain gene that is key to making important brain chemicals malfunctions. This problem may affect the part of the brain involved in developing higher functioning skills.Research into this gene is ongoing, so it is not yet possible to use the genetic information to predict who will develop the disease.

In addition, it probably takes more than genes to cause the disorder. Scientists think interactions between genes and the environment are necessary for schizophrenia to develop. Many environmental factors may be involved, such as exposure to viruses or malnutrition before birth, problems during birth, and other not yet known psychosocial factors.

Is Schizophrenia Caused by a Chemical Defect in the Brain?

Basic knowledge about brain chemistry and its link to schizophrenia is expanding rapidly. Neurotransmitters, substances that allow communication between nerve cells, have long been thought to be involved in the development of schizophrenia. It is likely, although not yet certain, that the disorder is associated with some imbalance of the complex, interrelated chemical systems of the brain, perhaps involving the neurotransmitters dopamine and glutamate.

Is Schizophrenia Caused by a Physical Abnormality in the Brain?

There have been dramatic advances in neuroimaging technology that permit scientists to study brain structure and function in living individuals. Many studies of people with schizophrenia have found abnormalities in brain structure. In some small but potentially important ways, the brains of people with schizophrenia look different than those of healthy people. For example, fluid-filled cavities at the center of the brain, called ventricles, are larger in some people with schizophrenia. The brains of people with the illness also tend to have less gray matter, and some areas of the brain may have less or more activity.

It should be emphasized that these abnormalities are quite subtle and are not characteristic of all people with schizophrenia, nor do they occur only in individuals with this illness. Microscopic studies of brain tissue after death have also shown small changes in distribution or number of brain cells in people with schizophrenia. It appears that many (but probably not all) of these changes are present before an individual becomes ill, and schizophrenia may be, in part, a disorder in development of the brain.

Developmental neurobiologists have found that schizophrenia may be a developmental disorder resulting when neurons form inappropriate connections during fetal development. These errors may lie dormant until puberty, when changes in the brain that occur normally during this critical stage of maturation interact adversely with the faulty connections. This research has spurred efforts to identify prenatal factors that may have some bearing on the apparent developmental abnormality.

In other studies, investigators using brain-imaging techniques have found evidence of early biochemical changes that may precede the onset of disease symptoms, prompting examination of the neural circuits that are most likely to be involved in producing those symptoms. Meanwhile, scientists working at the molecular level are exploring the genetic basis for abnormalities in brain development and in the neurotransmitter systems regulating brain function.

Schizophrenia Table of Contents

Based upon material from the National Institute of Mental Health.

APA Reference

Psych Central. (2006). What Causes Schizophrenia?. Psych Central.

Retrieved on July 24, 2013, from http://psychcentral.com/lib/what-causes-schizophrenia/000715

    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 30 Jan 2013
    Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.

Cannabis Not the Only Drug Linked to <b>Schizophrenia</b> - Psych Central

By
Traci Pedersen
Associate News Editor


Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D.

on July 13, 2013

Psychosis that results from the use of several types of illegal drugs is strongly associated with a future clinical diagnosis of schizophrenia, new research suggests.

The study involved more than 3,000 inpatients from Scotland who experienced substance-induced psychoses. The findings showed that those who suffered from psychosis resulting from cannabis, or polypharmacy (the use of multiple substances), that required hospitalization had the greatest increased risk of developing schizophrenia.

Conversion rates to schizophrenia were also high for those who had had episodes of stimulant- and opioid-induced psychoses.

Furthermore, the researchers found that the majority of patients who converted to schizophrenia did so within five years of their substance-induced hospitalization.

“We did find that those who had cannabis-related psychosis or polypharmacy psychosis were more likely to develop schizophrenia than those who had other related psychosis,” said lead author David M. Semple, M.B.B.S., M.R.C.Psych., consultant psychiatrist from Hairmyres Hospital, East Kilbride, Glasgow, Scotland.

“This backs up a lot of previous work that showed that cannabis is an independent risk factor for schizophrenia. And it suggests that if you encounter someone with a cannabis-induced psychotic episode, the likelihood that they will develop schizophrenia is approaching 25 percent, or about 1 in 4,” he said.

He added that clinicians should follow patients “for quite some time” after a first episode of psychosis induced by any type of substance.

“There may be other genetic or predisposing factors, but if presented with this very severe episode that results in hospitalization, you’d be well advised to follow up for at least five years.”

For the study, researchers set out to investigate the conversion rates from an episode of substance-induced psychosis to a clinical diagnosis of schizophrenia, as well as to evaluate time to conversion.

They looked at data from the Scottish Morbidity Record on 3,486 patients who were admitted to a psychiatric hospital between January 1997 and June 2012 for a first episode of substance-induced psychosis. These patients were then followed until July 2012 or until they experienced a first episode of schizophrenia.

The findings revealed that the cumulative risk for developing schizophrenia after experiencing cannabis-induced psychosis was 21.4 percent. The conversion risk was 19.1p ercent for those who had stimulant-induced psychosis, and 18.4 percent for those who had opioid-induced psychosis.

The risk of conversion to schizophrenia in those who had taken multiple substances was 21.5 percent. The conversion rate of alcohol-induced psychosis was only 10.6 percent.

“Sedative, cocaine, hallucinogen, tobacco, and solvent-induced psychosis groups were too small to allow meaningful interpretation,” investigators said.

Although the mean time to the development of schizophrenia was approximately 12 years, most diagnoses for the disorder occurred within the first five years after the substance-induced psychosis episode.

“Cannabis-induced psychosis or psychosis caused by multiple substances that requires hospital admission is more likely to be associated with later diagnosis schizophrenia than psychoses caused by other substances,” write the researchers.

However, “conversion rates are still significant with other substance-induced psychoses and increased attention to this group of disorders is likely to pay dividends in the search for the causes of schizophrenia,” they added.

“This is an important study done in a large group of patients,” said Peter W. Woodruff, Ph.D., F.R.C.Psych., professor of academic clinical psychiatry at the University of Sheffield, England.  However, he noted that it was “not surprising,” since any substance that affects a person’s state of mind can alter neurotransmitters in the brain.

“If nonprescribed drugs, or substances, are taken for nontherapeutic reasons by people who are otherwise healthy, these substances can cause some form of destabilization of the healthy dynamics and alter healthy function in susceptible people — and can increase risk of their developing serious mental illness.”

Source:  International Congress of the Royal College of Psychiatrists

APA Reference

Pedersen, T. (2013). Cannabis Not the Only Drug Linked to Schizophrenia. Psych Central.

Retrieved on July 24, 2013, from http://psychcentral.com/news/2013/07/13/cannabis-not-the-only-drug-linked-to-schizophrenia/57177.html

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Brain and Behavior, General, Mental Health and Wellness, Psychology, Research, Schizophrenia, Substance Abuse

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Stilettos and <b>Schizophrenia</b> - Neatorama

The following is an article from The Annals of Improbable Research.

(Image credit: Flickr user Flavia)

by Paul Mackin, MB BS PhD MRCPsych
Peter Gallagher, BSc (Hons) MPhil
Lucy Robinson, BSc (Hons)
School of Neurology Neurobiology and Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry
University of Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K.

A recently published hypothesis proposes that, in country after country, the prevalence of schizophrenia increased following the introduction of heeled footwear. That hypothesis does not account for differing footwear styles. In this report, we attempt to remedy that lack.

We examine the risk of schizophrenia in individuals wearing stiletto heels.

Flensmark’s High Hypothesis

Is there an association between the use of heeled footwear and schizophrenia? This is the question posed in a recent paper by Jarl Flensmark, published in the journal Medical Hypotheses.¹ Flensmark’s article highlights that the increase use and availability of heeled footwear has been paralleled by an increase in the prevalence of schizophrenia.

Flensmark presents a cogent argument supported by historical and epidemiological data together with a possible pathophysiological mechanism to account for the phenomenon.

The mechanism underlying this phenomenon, Flensmark suggests, is obvious. Heeled footwear, he explains, reduces stimulation of mechanoreceptors in the lower extremities which would normally increase activity in cerebello-thalamo-cortico-cerebellar loops through their action on NMDA receptors, and that this reduction in cortical activity changes dopaminergic function which involves the basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical-nigro-basal ganglia loops.

If Flensmark is correct, there are far-reaching consequences for the prevention and treatment of mental illnesses. The role of drugs in the management of these disorders is controversial, and the Flensmark hypothesis casts a dark shadow over the future of psychopharmacology.

This argument would have been further strengthened, however, by considering the relationship between the prevalence of schizophrenia and individual footwear styles. We offer some thoughts about the deleterious effects upon mental health of stiletto shoes, and conclude with a simple intervention which, based on Flensmark’s observations, may offer therapeutic benefit to both the mental and physical health of those suffering from schizophrenia.

If this pathophysiological mechanism is correct one would expect to observe a higher prevalence of schizophrenia in individuals who wear stiletto heels as high heels increase mechanical loading on the medial forefoot at the expense of other plantar regions,² and cause changes in postural muscle tone,³ and therefore altered mechanoreceptor stimulation. We undertook a systematic literature search to identify epidemiological and demographic data regarding the risk of schizophrenia in individuals who wear stiletto heels.

Figure 1. Measuring a stiletto heel (metric). (Image credit: A.S. Kaswell, AIR)

Stilettos and Schizophrenia: Method

We did a systematic walkthrough of the medical literature, looking for reports that involve the two words “stiletto” and “schizophrenia.” We found nothing. We then searched for medical papers that report the average heel size as a function of age. We found some. We then correlated this data with age of hospitalization for schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia and Stilettos: Results

The relationship between hospitalizations for schizophrenia and average heel height is represented graphically in figure 3. [Ed. note: which is unavailable.]

Stiletto heels are rarely worn before the age of fifteen, and schizophrenic illnesses are rarely diagnosed before this age. Heel height increases sharply, however, over the subsequent three years, closely mirroring the sharp increase in the incidence of schizophrenia. The mean age for the first wearing of heels 1, 2 and 3 inches high is 15.1, 16.7 and 18.5 years, respectively.⁴ The wearing of stiletto heels decreases throughout adulthood as does the heel height. It is of particular interest to note that the maximum heel height corresponds to the peak hospitalization rate, and as heel height decreases so too does hospitalization.

Stilettos and Schizophrenia: Discussion

High heels are worn most frequently, but not exclusively, by females. We are not aware of any data regarding the average height of the heel size of men’s footwear, or how this may change over time. This is clearly an area worthy of further research.

Preliminary data do suggest, however, that male cross-dressers may have a higher rate of schizophrenia,⁵ although we are careful to emphasize that it is not clear that all male cross-dressers wear stiletto heels, some perhaps preferring a simple flat shoe or an open-toe sandal.

The possible relationship between plantar mechanoreceptor stimulation and schizophrenia raises interesting questions regarding therapeutic intervention. Should Flensmark’s hypothesis be true, increasing plantar mechanoreceptor stimulation should offer protection from developing a psychotic illness to vulnerable individuals (e.g. those with high genetic loading), as well as improving the illness course of those with an established schizophrenic illness.

Figure 2. Measuring a stiletto heel (non-metric). By tradition, this method of measurement is the preferred one. (Image credit: A.S. Kaswell, AIR)

Steps for Treatment

We propose a simple and highly cost-effective intervention which simply involves repetitive forceful stepping on the spot, twice daily (Step-b.d). This program of activity could be easily incorporated into the daily routine and would obviate the need for regular contact with physicians to monitor compliance or side effects, although we would advocate a six-monthly check-up with a state registered chiropodist.

[We would not wish this to be confused with the highly successful Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder (STEPBD), which is currently running in the USA, and, accordingly, we propose the Schizophrenia Kinetic Intervention for Prophylaxis (SKIP-BD)].

Apart from the potential therapeutic benefit on schizophrenic symptoms, there are also other clear benefits associated with this intervention. Patients with schizophrenia are at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis,⁶ and there is clear data to suggest that jumping up and down on the spot prevents bone loss and osteoporosis.⁷ Furthermore, the increased aerobic exercise would offer protection against cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes, which are more prevalent in patients with schizophrenia.⁸

Controlled trials of the SKIP-BD program are urgently needed, as a positive outcome would have dramatic resource implications for all developed healthcare systems, as well as for the pharmaceutical industry. The need for costly Early Intervention in Psychosis programs would be abolished, and the costs associated with antipsychotic drug prescriptions would be decimated. Pending the results of these trials, we strongly recommend that patients continue to take prescribed medication. Patients and doctors, of either sex, should wear the stiletto heel at their peril.

Conflict of Interests

PM and PG have no personal experience of wearing footwear with heel heights exceeding one inch. There are no other conflicts of interest that will be mentioned here.

References

1. “Is There an Association Between the Use of Heeled Footwear and Schizophrenia?” J. Flensmark, Medical Hypotheses, vol. 63, 2004, pp. 740-47

2. “The Effects of Wearing High Heeled Shoes on Pedal Pressure in Women,” R.E. Snow and K.R. Williams, Foot and Ankle, vol. 13, 1992, pp. 85-92.

3. “Postural Alignment in Barefoot and High-Heeled Stance,” K.A. Opila, et al.,
Spine, vol. 13, 1988, pp. 542-47.

4. The Prevalence of Foot Problems in Older Women: A Cause for Concern,” J. Dawson, et al., Journal of Public Health Medicine, vol. 24, 2002, pp. 77-84.

5. “A Comparison of Treated and Untreated Male Cross-Dressers,” J.L. Croughan, et al., Archives of Sexual Behavior, vol. 10, 1981, pp. 515-28.

6. “Schizophrenia and Osteoporosis,” M. Lean and G. De Smedt, International Clinical Psychopharmacology, vol. 19, 2004;, pp. 31-35.

7. “Long-Term Exercise Using Weighted Vests Prevents Hip Bone Loss in Postmenopausal Women,” C.M. Snow, et al., Journals of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, vol. 55, 2000, pp. M489-91.

8. “Diet, Diabetes and Schizophrenia; Review and Hypothesis,” M. Peet, British Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 184, suppl. 47, 2004, pp. S102-105.

[EDITOR’S NOTE: For a detailed look at the Flensmark hypothesis, see “Trouble Underfoot” in AIR, vol. 11, no. 1, January-February 2005.]

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This article is republished with permission from the March-April 2005 issue of the Annals of Improbable Research. You can download or purchase back issues of the magazine, or subscribe to receive future issues. Or get a subscription for someone as a gift!

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Rare Genetic Changes Linked to <b>Schizophrenia</b> | Psych Central News

By
Traci Pedersen
Associate News Editor


Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D.

on July 21, 2013

Rare genetic changes that may be responsible for the development of schizophrenia have been identified by scientists at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto, Canada.   

Many of these same genetic lesions had been previously linked to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The finding provides more evidence that multiple rare genetic changes may contribute to schizophrenia and other brain disorders.

This discovery also suggests that clinical DNA (genome-wide microarray) testing may be helpful in demystifying schizophrenia, one of the most complex and stigmatized human diseases.

In the novel study, scientists analyzed the DNA of 459 Canadian adults with schizophrenia to identify any rare genetic changes of potential clinical significance.

“We found a significant number of large rare changes in the chromosome structure that we then reported back to the patients and their families,” said Anne Bassett, M.D., director of CAMH’s Clinical Genetics Research Program and Canada Research Chair in Schizophrenia Genetics and Genomic Disorders at the University of Toronto.

“In total, we expect that up to eight percent of schizophrenia may be caused in part by such genetic changes — this translates to roughly one in every 13 people with the illness.” These include several new discoveries for schizophrenia, including lesions on chromosome 2.

The researchers also developed a systematic approach to aid in the discovery and analysis of new, smaller rare genetic changes linked to schizophrenia, which provides dozens of new leads for scientists studying the illness.

“We were able to identify smaller changes in chromosome structure that may play an important role in schizophrenia—and that these often involve more than one gene in a single person with the illness,” added Bassett, who is also a clinician scientist in the Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute.

“Moving forward, we will be able to study common pathways affected by these different genetic changes and examine how they affect brain development—the more we know about where the illness comes from, the more possibilities there will be for the development of new treatments.”

Several of the genes and pathways identified in this study of schizophrenia have also been linked to ASD. This includes the large rare changes in chromosome structure of potential clinical significance.

“We have seen the success clinical microarray testing has had in making sense of ASD for families, and we think the same could be true for schizophrenia,” added co-author Stephen Scherer, Ph.D., director of TCAG and the University of Toronto’s McLaughlin Centre.

The study is published in the current issue of Human Molecular Genetics.

Source:  Human Molecular Genetics

Abstract of DNA photo by shutterstock.

APA Reference

Pedersen, T. (2013). Rare Genetic Changes Linked to Schizophrenia. Psych Central.

Retrieved on July 24, 2013, from http://psychcentral.com/news/2013/07/21/rare-genetic-changes-linked-to-schizophrenia/57418.html

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