Schophrenia

Schizophrenia effects men and women equally, however, the symptoms may appear later in life for women, normally around th

the release of fatty acids, an energy source from fat cells, for use by the muscles (Stoppler, M, 2001). Taken together, these energy-directing processes prepare the individual to deal with stressors and insure that the brain receives adequate energy sources. The effects on the chemistry of the brain may be a trigger for existing schizophrenia or worsen existing symptoms, however, most researchers agree that stress alone cannot be the main cause of schizophrenia.

The physical attributes of the brain of a schizophrenic have shown some notable

brain, and decreased size of certain brain regions (NIMH, 1999). Using magnetic

resonance imaging (MRI) there is evidence of more localized abnormalities. Decreased volume of the frontal and temporal cortex have been found as well as decreased volume of the hippocampus. Functional imaging studies have repeatedly demonstrated a decreased function of the frontal lobes with both measurements of cerebral blood flow as measured by single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) (Kahn, R. S and Davis, K. L., 2001). Dr. Monte Buchsbaum, director of the brain imaging division at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, says “Patients with schizophrenia have a disconnection of the frontal lobe from the cingulate gyrus. We can speculate that this means the frontal lobe fails in its usual inhibiting function, so that what would ordinarily be censored thoughts are experienced as voices. The cingulate gyrus is unleashed to act on its own, causing the hallucinations.” (Goleman, D., 1995)

Although schizophrenia is not yet a "curable" disease, it is treatable. Most patients with schizophrenia have to take medication regularly to keep their illness under control. It is not possible to know in advance which medication will work best for an individual. There are four “atypical” antipsychotic medications (risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, and ziprasidone). In many ways these medications work better and are better tolerated than the older antipsychotic medictions (Gorman, J, 2001). Many medication adjustments may be required. This period of trial and error can be very difficult for everyone involved (Long, P. W., 1995-2001).

The exact cause of schizophrenia is still unknown and scientists are certain that schizophrenia has more than one cause. Scientists have developed dozens of theories to explain what causes this disease, but there seems to be two major areas of focus genetics biochemical. The Genetic theory is that schizophrenia is caused by a defect in a person's genetic makeup. People have twenty-three pairs of chromosomes and each pair contains one chromosome from each parent. Each chromosome is a double-stranded molecule of DNA. Each strand is a sequence of nucleotide bases atta

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