Schizophrenia What Is It? By: Ross Greenberg and Adam Stombler

What is happening in the brain? People with schizophrenia have too much dopamine. They also have reduced amounts of grey matter. They have decreased brain volume. The ventricles (the space between the neurons) are larger than usual. The hippocampus and amygdala are smaller. The cerebral cortex is smaller. The limbic system (controls emotions) and temporal lobe are smaller. There is not as much blood flow in the front of the brain.

Symptoms Schizophrenia: Hallucinations Delusions Social Isolation Lack of Emotion (flat affect) Paranoid Schizophrenia: False beliefs that others are trying to you or your loved ones Anxiety Anger

Symptoms (continued) Disorganized Schizophrenia: Problems with thinking Childlike behavior Showing little emotion Catatonic Schizophrenia Lack of activity Rigid posture Odd expressions on the face Does not respond much to other people

treatment As of 2003, a cure was developed for schizophrenia. A lot of people take medication. The medication will cure the symptoms to some degree for 70% of people. But it will only cure it fully to 50% of patients. Most people who take medication have to take more than one. Many people also do some form of psychiatric therapy along with the medication. A study has shown that therapy and medication is the most efficient way to cure the disease. It also said that therapy alone won’t work very well.

Neurotransmitters The main neurotransmitter in Schizophrenia is dopamine. The brain is producing too much dopamine. Also, they have a reduced amount of the D1 class of dopamine receptors. So, not enough dopamine is going through the synapses. This causes an excess amount of dopamine in the synapse. It is interesting that too much dopamine will make you schizophrenic, but not enough dopamine will give you depression.

Conclusion Our conclusion is that schizophrenia is a very serious illness. Often, people don’t realize how serious this illness is. Sometimes people will make fun of it. Schizophrenia is caused by having excess dopamine. A lot of homeless people suffer from schizophrenia. Luckily a cure has been developed for this disease. Up until 2003 there was no cure for Schizophrenia. It doesn’t matter who you are, anyone can still get schizophrenia (see diagram on the next slide). Finally, if you see anyone with all or most of these symptoms you should contact a doctor.

Risk Statistics

The End!

Sources Pictures: http://www.schizophrenia.com/family/F AQoffspring.htm#inherit http://www.schizophrenia.com/schizpic tures.html Research: Schizophrenia.com www.nimh.nih.gov : National Institute of Mental Health