Environmental Effects Of Schizophrenia

Kety asked two groups of adoptees: who had schizophrenia, and a matched group who didn’t. The disorder was related in the biological and adoptive families of the two groups of adoptees – this was larger among biological relations of the schizophrenic adoptees than between ones of the controls, this supports the genetic explanation.

As we have seen, treatment of schizophrenia with antipsychotic drugs can have impressive results in terms of decreasing active symptoms, although it does nothing to alleviate negative symptoms or to improve cognitive functioning. Unfortunately, this kind of treatment has the drawback of extremely serious and even fatal side-effects. Newer generation atypical antipsychotics offer more hope, as they can treat both active and negative symptoms, and also improve cognitive functioning. Moreover, they have fewer side-effects. However, treatment is complicated by the fact that results are unpredictable; and in addition the side-effects that they do have can be very serious, such as diabetes, which in itself is life-threatening. However, as the potential side-effects are known, the physician has leeway to choose a drug which is a good match for the patient’s clinical profile. Then, once the patient’s symptoms have been much alleviated with an appropriate newer generation atypical antipsychotic, the patient should be able to also benefit from a range of psychotherapeutic interventions. It is argued that this is the best treatment regime to choose, as it is likely to result in the greatest improvement in quality of life, coupled with the lowest risk of potentially devastating side-effects, or of death. This is likely to be better than utilizing cognitive behavioral therapy, the results of which are not reliably known – although research has certainly shown that it is less efficacious

The introduction of Clozapine, marked a turning point in the treatment of schizophrenia, as the first "atypical" antipsychotic drug lacking the propensity to produce ‘extra-pyramidal symptoms’ (associated with the older antipsychotic agents) (Kane et al. 1988). Even though, Clozapine has not conclusively demonstrated its significantly superior record or efficacy for psychosis (Gardner et al. 2005), it has proven exceptional effectiveness, compared to other more traditional antipsychotics (Claghorn et al. 1987). However, Kane et al. (1988) and others have concluded, 30–60% of all schizophrenic patients who fail to respond to typical antipsychotics may respond therapeutically/effectively to Clozapine (Breier et al. (1994) & Iqbal et al. (2003)). This is especially apparent for refractory schizophrenia (Kane et al. 1988), treatment-resistant schizoaffective disorders (Zarate et al. 1995) and aggression (Cohen & Underwood, 1994).

Environmental factors are crucial to the development of schizophrenia. A traumatic experience in early childhood can cause schizophrenia in the future for example sexual or physical abuse. It carries over to adulthood. According to some studies, the age of the father contributes to the risk of schizophrenia. The older the father the greater the risk because of the “genetic mutation in the sperm that can be passed on.” (Berkshire Health System, 2014)

Most research that has been conducted has shown that this is an illness that is usually inherited. Someone that has a relative that has schizophrenia that they are closely related to has a greater chance to inherit it than someone who does not have any relatives with the illness. Idententical twins have also been studied and found that “an identical twin of a person with schizophrenia has the highest risk 40 to 50 percent of developing illness. A child whose parent has schizophrenia has about a 10 percent chance” (Mentalhealth.com, Leonard Holmes). This all connects to the biological aspect of having this disorder but other issues that have been connected to people with schizophrenia are prenatal complications. A study by Thomas F. McNeil and Elizabeth Cantor-Graae, was done to analyze the

Reduction in grey matter volume, disordered white matter integrity, and abnormal activity of neurons when a person is engaged in cognitive tasks is present in the schizophrenic brain (Karlsgodt et al. 2010). Furthermore, schizophrenia is not caused by one factor, but several different factors, including genetics and the environment. An individual with a positive family history for the disorder have a higher risk for developing it and premature birth, low birth weight, and perinatal hypoxia have a subtle effect on how the brain develops. The typical time period that the development of schizophrenia occurs is in late adolescence or early adulthood (Picchioni and Murray 2007). In adulthood, factors such as social isolation, migrant status, and urban life act contribute to the development, or worsening of the disorder.

Experts think that there could be genetic predisposition that can be triggered by early life experiences and environmental factors (Everyday Health). The disorder occurs in 1% of the general population, but in 10% of people who have a 1st degree relative with the illness. There are many environmental and behavioral risk factors believed to be associated with schizophrenia (Psychology Today). These risk factors include childhood exposure to lead and X-rays, or certain viruses in utero or as an infant. Another risk factor believed to be connected to the illness is childhood isolation. Alcohol and substance abuse along with tobacco use are also presumed to be risk factors (Everyday Health). “If schizophrenia and substance abuse disorders share genetic underpinnings, then this strongly challenges the rigid diagnostic boundaries that separate these psychiatric disorders and might have clinical implications.” (BBR

From the first months of life, premorbid developmental impairments are recorded in more than half of those who develop childhood onset schizophrenia; childhood onset is usually insidious and suggests early disruption of brain development (Masi, Mucci and Pari, 2006). There are genetic and environmental factors to schizophrenia.

Medication has been the most successful treatment by far. Antipsychotic drugs do little for helping the patient understand and deal with various aspects of their illness. Because of this, psychotherapy is absolutely necessary along with medication. Alarmingly, a recent study shows that only a third of schizophrenia patients are getting the correct

Schizophrenia is a mental illness in which an individual is characterized with abnormal social behavior and failure to differentiate between what is real and what is not. Individuals with schizophrenia can develop additional mental problems such as anxiety disorders, major depressive illness or substance abuse disorders. There are many factors that contribute to the risk of developing schizophrenia, in where a combination of both genetic and environmental factors play a big role in its development. Many genes are believed to be part of the development of schizophrenia each of minor effect and unknown spread and manifested, since it’s not just one cell who’s at fault but a conjunction of many that are. Environmental factors that contribute

The direct genetic loci accounting for schizophrenia’s heritability is still unidentified. The mental illness affects approximately 3.5million Americans and 1 percent of the worldwide population today. The variable related to the disease is so widely ranged that literally anyone can have some form of potential risk. Compared to other mental disorders, schizophrenia is unique to having a combination of many different environmental, genetic, and biological factors. The exact cause of the disease is still unknown, but studies such as biometric and molecular screenings have proved genetic and biological factors, combined with environmental factors, is strongly connected to the etiology of the disease. Although schizophrenia is more commonly manifested during young adulthood, scientists believes, a variety of pre-birth factors are linked to the development of the disease. There are several prenatal factors that have a higher relative risk to the progression of schizophrenia as recorded by scientists. Although not proven, studies suggests time of birth, place of birth, infections during pregnancy, stress, malnourishment, and rh incompatibility are increased risk factors that shed light on possible causations of schizophrenia. Many studies are indefinite due to the latency, methodology, and of the disease, more research need to be established.

Schizophrenia is a life-long disorder that affects about one percent of the population (Mueser & McGurk, 2004). The cause of this mental illness is still unclear. Studies have suggested that Schizophrenia does not arise from one factor but from a combination of genetic, environmental, and social factors (Liddle, 1987). People diagnosed with Schizophrenia struggle to deal with a multitude of symptoms that make it difficult to function (Mueser & McGurk, 2004). Antipsychotic medications are a popular treatment of the symptoms of Schizophrenia (Mueser & McGurk, 2004). Research is constantly being done to develop these medications to enhance the quality of life of those diagnosed with Schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia treatment has developed to have two specific classes of drugs, typical antipsychotics and atypical antipsychotics. Typical antipsychotics were the first type of drugs to be used on schizophrenia patients. They are also known as the ‘first-generation’ drugs. Atypical antipsychotics, or ‘second-generation’ drugs are newer drugs that are now often used in replacement of the ‘first-generation’ drugs. However this progression of drug treatment for schizophrenia patients has shown little change in effectiveness as studies were unable to find distinct difference. The only real difference between the two can be seen in their prices and side effects. Although, the typical antipsychotics have now tapped into the fast-growing generic drug

Clearly, this is a very serious disorder, which is often utterly incapacitating. Therefore, individuals urgently require efficacious treatment, both for survival and for quality of life, and many different kinds of treatment and therapy are used. This paper will examine the use of two of these, cognitive behavioral therapy and drug therapy, and evaluate which one is better. It will take the position that drug therapy is a more effective therapy for treating schizophrenia than is cognitive behavioral therapy.

Schizophrenia is a very serious, long-term disorder that affects about 1% of the world’s population. It affects people anywhere from twenty years old, to forty-five years old. It is known to be one of the most disabling diseases in this age group. Schizophrenia can break down a person’s behaviors, emotions, and thoughts. People who suffer from schizophrenia usually show very inappropriate displays of their actions and feelings. Sufferers have been known to hear voices, even when there is nobody around them. They have problems controlling their thoughts, and sometimes blurt out things that are very inappropriate. This paper will outline the biological, social, and psychological