my notes on Schizophrenia. if you (understandably) have trouble reading it, check comments.

SCHIZOPHRENIA SYNDROME
*Can be caused by a number of factors.

FIRST SIGNS:
- Personality Changes
- Irritability
- Gradual Encroachment of Unusual Thoughts

Cognitive Symptoms:
- Difficulty Concentrating
- Difficulty Remembering Info
( This can range from passwords to own birth date )
- Difficulty Making Decisions

[Some Factors]
- Environmental Factors
( Exposure to viruses during infancy, use of drugs by highly-susceptible patients, childhood trauma )
- Genetic Factors
( Relatives that are diagnosed )

[NEGATIVE SYMPTOMS]
( symptoms that are not expressed )
- Motivation
- Expression of Emotion
- Speech

Psychotic Episode:
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
- Disordered Speech + Behavior

WHAT CAUSES PSYCHOSIS
There likely isn't a single cause, but a combination of genetic and environmental risk factors that all contribute.
*Schizophrenia has the strongest genetic links than any psychiatric illness. 1% of the population HAVE schizophrenia, but siblings or children of said patients are 10x more likely to develop the syndrome.
GENES PLAY A ROLE,
but it has not yet been discovered which, and how many.

TREATMENTS
[Traditional Antipsychotic]
- Blocks Dopamine receptors, which can be very effective for positive symptoms because of the links to access dopamine in certain receptors. However, it can make negative symptoms worse. This is because TOO LITTLE dopamine in other areas.
[New Generation]
- Targets multiple neurotransmitters, like serotonin, along with dopamine.

NO ONE TRANSMITTER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL SYMPTOMS.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy +
- Electroconvulsive therapy
can both help. ( SIDE NOTE: Electroconvulsive therapy is usually seen as a last resort. )

*EARLY INTERVENTION IS IMPORTANT.*

( fact up top )
Some patients show a loss in neural tissues within the brain.