Think Twice: New Clues in Schizophrenia
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
JC Jones MA RN
Remember that Phil Collins song advising us to Think Twice before we judge the crazy people in the street? Research published this week in the Journal of Neuroscience confirms that Collins was spot on. Schizophrenia is developmental disease and now scientists are learning that gene-related problems involving neurotransmitters in the prefrontal cortex of the brain may be the heart of the matter. This offers potential promise for better medications to treat abnormalities in the production of the chemical messenger GABA. Researchers have identified problems with the gene GAD1 which produces an enzyme essential for production of GABA and Mll1.
Schizophrenia affects 2 million US citizens and 6.6 million Europeans - yet despite advances in science, we can't shake the stigma attached to the disease. Shizophrenics remain the subject of ridicule, fear and disdain - even though we know rationally they are not possessed by demons, weak-minded or flawed. An accompanying problem is loss of working memory, which may account for the disorganized thinking and loose associations seen in schizophrenia. Clozapine is one antipsychotic medication that appears to help with severe symptoms.
Schizophrenia is an extremely disabling, life-long brain disorder. People whose brains are afflicted with this genetic problem hear voices, have hallucinations and believe others are controlling their thoughts. Schizophrenics have difficulty managing their lives and maintaining employment. Children may not manifest signs of the brain disorder until their late teens. The critical ages are 17-28. So do think twice - that person talking to themselves on the street is someone's child with a brain disorder - someone's child who may not have health insurance and may not have access to medications and treatment needed to control the symptoms of the genetic illness.
Thank you lauradahl for use of HERA[Hemispheric Encoding/Retrieval Assymmetry] Graphic.
Labels: GABA, genetic research, neurotransmitter, prefrontal cortex, schizophrenia
4 Comments:
At Thu Oct 25, 07:55:00 PM 2007,
marisa said…
My sister does not want help,because she thinks that there is nothing wrong with her.
I need help to help my sister....
I don't know what to do!
She thinks that I am the enemy.
She believes that I make deals with the mafia,do drogs and much more....I don't even smock.
She talks to herself for hours...
She is very desorganized.
She got no friens at all and she thinks everyone is agaist her.
She left my house one week ago and went to my brothers home and he is going crazy already.
She talks about going away to I don't know where...
Can anyone help me????
She also does't have any health ins.
I want to save my sister but I don't know how.
Thank you.
At Wed Dec 26, 06:25:00 PM 2007,
Anonymous said…
Get your sister to doctor ;she is at risk/as are you and your family.My son had same symptoms and nearly killed our family.
At Sat Jan 19, 08:38:00 AM 2008,
Sam said…
My son has been diagnosed with paranoid/schizophrenia at 37 years old and is now in the penal system.
I need help understanding his mental illness. I've known for many years he was ill but he kept medicating himself telling me he was okay....I knew better, just couldn't help him. I didn't know how or what was wrong?
Now he will more than likely spend his life locked away from society but I need a better understanding of his illness. He had a "normal" childhood and never had any problems until his late twenties, early thirties? Now he's a high profile case in the judicial system and may not get adequate treatment. Advise how to handle the situation please!
Is there a doctor in the house?
At Tue Jan 22, 10:30:00 AM 2008,
JC Jones MA RN said…
Hi Sam:
Your family is not alone and it is one of the great failings of our health care & judicial systems. See another of my posts http://www.healthline.com/blogs/health_observances/2007/05/mind-your-health-mental-health-month.html for more information and a link to Pete Earley's well researched yet heart breaking book Crazy: A Father's Search Through America's Mental Health Madness.
Post a Comment
<< Home