There are a lot of common misconceptions about schizophrenia. Here are some of the most widespread schizophrenia myths: Myth: People with schizophrenia have multiple personalities 64 percent of American believe that schizophrenia involves split personalities. But this belief is completely untrue. Multiple personality disorder, which is unrelated to schizophrenia, is the actual cause of split …
Growing evidence suggests that illicit drug use may be one of the many genetic and environmental factors that trigger schizophrenia. Researchers have focused on marijuana as a possible trigger, however, they are unsure about the exact nature of the link between marijuana and psychosis. One view posits that the gene which indicates a risk for …
The largest study conducted of people with schizophrenia has found 83 new gene locations, with some in surprising places. These findings will allow researchers to pursue new theories about what causes schizophrenia and how to treat it. For this study, the researchers looked at the genetic codes of 36,989 people with schizophrenia and 113.075 people …
Scientists at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health have identified a novel drug target that could lead to the development of better antipsychotic medications. Currently, treatment for patients with schizophrenia involves taking medications that block or interfere with the action of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which acts on dopamine D2 receptors in the brain. However, …
A recent study found that improper drug treatment is given to nearly 40 percent of patients that suffer from their first episode of schizophrenia. The researchers noted that this improper drug treatment can lead to patient’s long-term outcome, since schizophrenia is a chronic treatment, as well as problems that cause patients to stop taking their …
A gene that is associated with schizophrenia is also associated with brain development, which could help researchers explain the way the disease originates. The overproduction of the NOS1AP gene causes abnormalities in brain structure and faulty connections between nerve cells that prevent them from communicating correctly, says Bonnie Firestein, Ph.D., a Rutgers professor in the …
Researchers have found a specific brain network that is the last to develop, but first to show signs of neurodegeneration, which is more vulnerable to disorders that emerge in young people, shedding light on conditions such as schizophrenia and the potential genetic and environmental factors that may occur early in life. A team led by …
We invite those 18 to 85 years old who are experiencing involuntary movements in their face or other parts of their body- and suffer from schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, or mood disorder- to see if they qualify for the Kinect 3 Study. The purpose of this clinical research study is to evaluate the effectiveness, …
A new family-focused culturally-informed therapy has been developed by researchers at the University of Miami (UM). This treatment is aimed at reducing patients’ symptoms and improving patient and caregiver emotional well-being, explained principle investigator Amy Weisman de Mamani, Associate Professor of Psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences at UM. “We have developed a …
Since it is unknown how genetic and environmental risk factors act together on an individual to cause schizophrenia, treatments heavily rely on treating symptoms rather than underlying causes. Because of this, patients can never achieve full remission. Researchers from UCD, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and Beaumont Hospital, have published an improved characterization, …
