Research into Schizophrenia

What is Schizophrenia? Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder that often begins in late adolescence or early adulthood. It is an illness of the brain that affects how a person perceives the world, thinks and behaves. Many people confuse psychosis with violence but they are not the same thing. In fact, people with psychotic disorders like Schizophrenia are much more likely to be the victim of a crime than to commit one. Psychosis means “to break from reality,” and that’s exactly what Schizophrenia is – a mental disorder that causes the individual to have difficulty distinguishing what is real from what is not. Although Schizophrenia is a psychotic illness, psychosis can also occur in other mental disorders, such as Bipolar Disorder, Depression, or as a result of drug ingestion or Substance Use Disorder. Individuals with Schizophrenia experience these two categories of symptoms, plus many others. These categories are symptoms based on problems with cognition (delusions) and problems with perceptions (hallucinations). Another symptom is a belief in something that is not true, even when confronted with proof. The most common delusions are related to persecution, grandiosity, religion, or jealousy. Examples of this would be belief that a group or organization is out to get you; belief that the star of your favourite TV show is speaking directly to you; belief that a loved one is trying to harm or kill you; belief that someone you’ve never met is in love with you and belief that someone else is controlling your behaviour.

What causes Schizophrenia and who is at risk? Schizophrenia is equally common in men and women, affecting about one percent of the population, although the age of onset is usually about 10 years later in women than men. Some research suggests that women tend to have more paranoid delusions and hallucinations, whereas men often experience more negative and disorganised symptoms. Schizophrenia is linked to structural and functional abnormalities in the brain. The regions of the brain that control and coordinate thinking, perceptions and behaviours are not functioning properly, making it difficult for people to filter and process information. Frequently, people with Schizophrenia experience the information that comes to their senses as garbled and mixed together. A variety of different neurochemical pathways is involved, including brain pathways that use the chemicals dopamine and serotonin. The limbic system (an area of the brain involved with emotion), the thalamus (which coordinates outgoing messages), the cortex (the part of the brain that is responsible for problem-solving and complex thinking) and several other brain regions can all be affected. Schizophrenia often has a genetic component, although not in all cases. Birth trauma and fetal brain damage in utero increase the risk for Schizophrenia. Recent research also suggests that significant marijuana use may trigger the onset of Schizophrenia in youth who are at risk for the illness. Individuals who have an immediate family member with Schizophrenia should avoid using marijuana or other drugs.