Schizophrenia and Substance Use Concepts

Psychoactive drugs create pleasure, and increased use leads to increased tolerance.

Drugs provide escape from pain, stress, or anxiety. This is a form of self-medication.

Positive feelings from drugs are followed by negative feelings a short time later, as are negative feelings followed by positive ones.

People's expectations about drug use influence their experience, even before use and changing over time.

Strong recurring desires for a drug.

Reduced perception that occurs when drinking alcohol, making superficial things more influential.

Tolerance is a learned response. Environmental cues associated with drug use trigger responses.

Anticipating a drug's effect before use triggering regulatory responses.

Addiction is affected by social factors like friends, media, parental influence and exposure to substances.

Cultural norms influence substance use rates, including social pressure for frequent use.

A diagnosis of schizophrenia requires two or more of the following symptoms: hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech, or other positive, negative, or disorganized symptoms. These symptoms must be present for a significant portion of a month.

Schizophreniform disorder is similar to schizophrenia but with a shorter duration. Symptoms last for less than six months.

Schizoaffective disorder involves a combination of schizophrenia symptoms and mood disorder symptoms like depression or bipolar disorder.

Delusional disorder is characterized by persistent beliefs that are contrary to reality, despite the absence of other schizophrenia symptoms.

Brief psychotic disorder is marked by one or more symptoms like delusions, hallucinations, or disorganized speech or behavior, lasting less than a month.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can be used to treat auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia. While effective, the effects are often temporary.

Psychoanalytic therapy, which focuses on unconscious conflicts, has not been found to be helpful in treating schizophrenia and may even be harmful.

A token economy system rewards patients with tokens for desired behaviors, which they can exchange for privileges, aiming to improve daily living skills.

It's essential for patients with schizophrenia to adhere to their prescribed medication and therapy regimens for effective treatment.

Identifying and treating individuals in the prodromal phase (early stages) of schizophrenia can potentially prevent or lessen the severity of the disorder.

Schizophrenia occurs worldwide, affecting people of all races and cultures. However, its prevalence varies, with the lowest rates observed in Asian countries.

Treatment approaches for schizophrenia can differ across cultures. Outcomes tend to be better in poorer countries.

Schizophrenia is influenced by multiple genes working together, making some individuals more vulnerable to developing the disorder.

Individuals with a parent who has schizophrenia are more likely to develop the disorder themselves, indicating a genetic predisposition.

Studies comparing identical and fraternal twins shed light on the role of genetics and environment in schizophrenia. Identical twins share 100% of genes, while fraternal twins share 50%, revealing the impact of environment on identical twins with differing outcomes.

Adoption studies show that a combination of genetic vulnerability and environmental factors play a role in schizophrenia. A positive environment can reduce the risk of developing the disorder.

Genetic predisposition to schizophrenia combined with specific environmental stressors during crucial development stages can trigger the disorder.

Schizophrenia is linked to several common genes across chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 13, 20, and 22. Specific genes like Neuregulin 1, Dystrobrevin-binding protein 1, and Catecholamine O-methyl transferase are particularly influential.

Schizophrenia is linked to an imbalance in dopamine neurotransmitters. Excessive dopamine stimulation in the striatum and a deficiency in the prefrontal cortex are thought to contribute to the symptoms.

Glutamate, another important neurotransmitter, is also implicated in schizophrenia. Specifically, problems with the NMDA receptor, responsible for learning and memory, may lead to negative symptoms.

People with schizophrenia often have structural brain differences, such as reduced grey matter in the temporal and frontal lobes, smaller basal ganglia, and enlarged ventricles.

Exposure to certain viral infections during prenatal development, like influenza or the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, may increase the risk of schizophrenia.

Higher rates of schizophrenia are found in lower socioeconomic classes. There are two hypotheses: the sociogenic hypothesis suggests these circumstances lead to the condition, while the social selection hypothesis suggests people with schizophrenia drift downward.

High levels of expressed emotion in families, characterized by criticism, hostility, and over-involvement, are associated with a higher risk of relapse in schizophrenia.

This outdated theory proposed that cold, dominant, rejecting mothers contributed to the development of schizophrenia in their children. It is no longer considered a valid explanation.

This theory suggested that conflicting messages within families, where communication is mixed and confusing, could lead to schizophrenia. It has been largely discredited.

An early and largely ineffective treatment for schizophrenia, insulin coma therapy involved inducing a coma with high doses of insulin. It had limited success and is no longer used.

Antipsychotic drugs are a cornerstone of treatment for schizophrenia. Their effectiveness is related to their ability to block dopamine receptors, especially in the striatum.

Drugs that slow down the central nervous system, reducing activity and causing feelings of relaxation or sedation.

A pattern of alcohol use that leads to significant problems in a person's life, including tolerance, withdrawal, and a strong urge to continue drinking.

A phenomenon where a person needs less alcohol to achieve the same effect over time, potentially leading to higher risks of overdose.

The use of multiple drugs at the same time, which can increase the risk of dangerous interactions.

When the combined effect of two drugs is greater than the sum of their individual effects.

An inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain that reduces nerve activity.

An excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain that increases nerve activity.

Scarring of the liver caused by chronic alcohol abuse, impacting its ability to function properly.

A brain disorder caused by chronic alcohol abuse, characterized by confusion, memory loss, and coordination problems.

A condition that affects babies born to mothers who drank alcohol during pregnancy, resulting in physical and mental disabilities.

A severe alcohol withdrawal syndrome characterized by hallucinations, tremors, and confusion.

Consuming a large amount of alcohol in a short period of time, often leading to intoxication.

Drugs that calm the nervous system, induce sleep, and reduce anxiety, including barbiturates and benzodiazepines.

A type of sedative-hypnotic drug that can cause relaxation and sleep, but also has potential for overdose.

A type of anxiety-reducing drug that can also induce sleep, commonly prescribed for anxiety or insomnia.