Running head: GENETIC ASPECTS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA 1

Genetic Aspects of Schioph!enia

"iche##e $ee
%a&side High Schoo#

GENETIC ASPECTS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA '
A(st!act
This pape! )i## discuss inte!esting facts and info!*ation a(out schioph!enia+ Schioph!enia is
fai!#& i*po!tant (ecause it affects so *an& peop#e and *a,es it difficu#t fo! patients diagnosed
)ith schioph!enia to #ead no!*a# #i-es+ The!e a!e *o!e schioph!enics occup&ing the hospita#s
in A*e!ica than an& othe! *enta# i##ness .A!ieti/ '0112+ This *enta# diso!de! can affect peop#e at
an& age (et)een pu(e!t& and age 34+ So*e signs of schioph!enia a!e if the pe!son thin,s in a
st!ange )a&/ (ut to he5she it is no!*a#+ Schioph!enia patients can a#so e6pe!ience se-e!e
de#usions and ha##ucinations .A!ieti/ '0112+ Hea#th p!ofessiona#s ha-e -a!ious diffe!ent )a&s to
t!eat these t&pes of s&*pto*s/ (ut not a## of these *ethods p!o-e to (e successfu#+ Finding the
gene that causes schioph!enia can g!eat#& i*p!o-e the chances of finding a cu!e/ (ut docto!s
ha-e t!ou(#e finding that gene .Goff/ '007/ 8u#& ''2+ Schioph!enia is an engaging topic and has
an inte!esting histo!& )ith a p!o*ising futu!e+
Keywords: Genetics/ "edicine/ Schioph!enia/ "enta# 9iso!de!/ 9e#usions/ Ha##ucinations/
T!eat*ent/
GENETIC ASPECTS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA 1
Genetic Aspects of Schioph!enia
Schioph!enia affects on#& a!ound 1: of the popu#ation/ (ut it is sti## the *ost co**on se!ious
*enta# i##ness+ The!e a!e *o!e schioph!enics occup&ing the hospita#s in A*e!ica than an&
othe! *enta# i##ness .A!ieti/ '0112+ This *enta# diso!de! can affect peop#e at an& age
(et)een pu(e!t& and age 34+ So*e signs of schioph!enia a!e if the pe!son thin,s in a
st!ange )a&/ (ut to he5she/ it;s no!*a#+ The& can a#so e6pe!ience se-e!e de#usions and
ha##ucinations .A!ieti/ '0112+ Hea#th p!ofessiona#s ha-e -a!ious diffe!ent )a&s to t!eat these
t&pes of s&*pto*s/ (ut not a## of these *ethods p!o-e to (e successfu#+ Finding the gene
that causes schioph!enia can g!eat#& i*p!o-e the chances of finding a cu!e/ (ut docto!s
e6pe!ience t!ou(#e )hen t!&ing to find that gene .Goff/ '007/ 8u#& ''2+ Schioph!enia is an
engaging topic )ith a p!o*ising futu!e and disco-e!ing *o!e a(out the genetic aspects of
schioph!enia can i*p!o-e the #i-es of *an&+
Definition and Symptoms
The )o!d Schioph!enia contains the G!ee, !oots schio< *eaning sp#it/ and =ph!enia
*eaning *ind+ This is not intended to *ean that schioph!enics ha-e a sp#it pe!sona#it& diso!de!+
.>The Histo!& of Schioph!enia/? n+d+2+ Schioph!enia is a se!ious *enta# i##ness )hich causes
patients to see/ hea!/ and unde!stand the )o!#d in an a(no!*a# )a&+ Acco!ding to A!ieti .'0112
the )a& that schioph!enics thin, is si*i#a! to ho) *enta##& sound peop#e )ou#d d!ea*+ Peop#e
)ho a!e diagnosed )ith this *enta# diso!de! usua##& ha-e a ha!d ti*e inte!acting )ith othe!s and
*a& see* socia##& )ithd!a)n .@ang/ '0112+ Schioph!enia is usua##& associated )ith
ha##ucinations and de#usions+ Schioph!enics tend to see and hea! things that no one e#se can+
Peop#e )ith schioph!enia fi!*#& (e#ie-e these ha##ucinations a!e !ea#/ and this *a,es it difficu#t
to con-ince schioph!enics othe!)ise+ .A!ieti/ '0112+ @hen peop#e )ith schioph!enia
GENETIC ASPECTS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA 3
e6pe!ience de#usions/ the& *a& (e#ie-e that peop#e and othe! things a!e out to hu!t the*+
Schioph!enics a#so *a& (e#ie-e that e-ents in the !ea# )o!#d ha-e significant *eaning to thei!
#ife and often confuse the fantas& )o!#d )ith !ea#it&+ .A!ieti/ '0112+ These s&*pto*s cause
schioph!enics to st!ugg#e th!ough e-e!&da& #ife and can *a,e #i-ing in societ& difficu#t+
History
Schioph!enia has (een a!ound since ancient ti*es/ (ut the )o!d >schioph!enia? is
actua##& on#& a!ound 100 &ea!s o#d+ Schioph!enia )as identified as a distinct *enta# diso!de! (&
a Ge!*an docto! in 177A+ .>The Histo!& of Schioph!enia/? n+d+2+ His na*e )as E*i#e
B!aepe#in and e-en though he is c!edited fo! c#assif&ing schioph!enia/ he actua##& did not ca## it
schioph!enia+ He ca##ed schioph!enia >de*entia p!aeco6?/ and this *eans >(efo!e de*entia?+
.>The Histo!& of Schioph!enia/? n+d+2+ >The Histo!& of Schioph!enia? .n+d2 e6p#ains ho)
B!aepe#iin (e#ie-ed that schioph!enia )as !e#ated to de*entia o! )as a t&pe of de*entia+ Peop#e
(egan to !ea#ie that de*entia )as not di!ect#& !e#ated to schioph!enia/ so a change had to (e
*ade+ Eugen %#eu#e! )as the one to *a,e this change/ and this is ho) the )o!d >schioph!enia?
)as (o!n+ .>The Histo!& of Schioph!enia/? n+d+2+ Peop#e th!oughout ti*e ha-e had diffe!ent
)a&s of dea#ing )ith *enta# i##nesses such as schioph!enia+ Fo! e6a*p#e/ (efo!e @@' patients
unfo!tunate enough to ha-e schioph!enia had to spend thei! #ife is a ps&chiat!ic hospita#+ At
these hospita#s/ docto!s )ou#d atte*pt to cu!e the* in -a!ious )a&s and so*e of the* fai#ed+
.Goff/ '0072 So*e *ethods )e!e dun,ing patients in co#d )ate!/ infusing insu#in into the (#ood/
o! so*e docto!s )ou#d t!& to su!gica##& !e*o-e pa!t of the (!ain .Goff/ '0072+ $ate!/ docto!s did
gi-e out d!ugs that cou#d !educe so*e of the s&*pto*s of schioph!enia/ (ut it ca*e )ith *an&
se!ious side effects .Goff/ '0072+ $ong (efo!e B!aepe#in and %#eu#e!/ docto!s t!eated
schioph!enia and *enta# diso!de! a#i,e in a -e!& diffe!ent )a&+ The docto!s #ong ago thought
GENETIC ASPECTS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA 4
the *enta##& unsta(#e )e!e possessed (& e-i# spi!its and the so#ution )as to e6o!cise these spi!its
out (& d!i##ing a ho#e in the head+ .>The Histo!& of Schioph!enia/? n+d+2+ 9octo!s ha-e (een
t!&ing to un!a-e# the *&ste!& of schioph!enia fo! &ea!s/ and )ith toda&;s techno#og&/ it see*s
*o!e and *o!e #i,e#& that !esea!che!s )i## unco-e! the sec!ets of schioph!enia+
Current and Future Research
Resea!che!s a!e )o!,ing ha!d to find the gene.s2 that cause schioph!enia (ecause the
*o!e !esea!che!s unde!stand a(out schioph!enia/ the (ette! the chances a!e fo! finding an
efficient cu!e+ A !esea!ch g!oup f!o* Ice#and and anothe! f!o* "assachusetts ha-e disco-e!ed
th!ee ne) genetic -a!iants that cou#d potentia##& gi-e a ne) unde!standing of schioph!enia+ It is
fai!#& difficu#t to find co**on -a!iants in schioph!enia/ so the findings f!o* these !esea!ch
g!oups )e!e he#pfu# .@ade/ '0072+@ade .'0072 co**ents a(out the fact that though the -a!iants
inc!ease the !is, of schioph!enia/ it does not p!og!ess schioph!enia !esea!ch that *uch+ This is
(ecause the -a!iants a!e !a!e and on#& app#& to a s*a## nu*(e! of schioph!enia cases+ The
!esea!ch g!oups a#so found that natu!a# se#ection cou#d actua##& (e )o!,ing against
schioph!enia+ Resea!che!s (e#ie-e this (ecause the& ha-e noticed that schioph!enics tend to
ha-e a difficu#t ti*e ha-ing chi#d!en .@ade/ '0072+ A diffe!ent !esea!ch stud& sho)s that
inte!!upting the gene that *a& cause schioph!enia du!ing the de-e#op*ent stage can cause
se!ious p!o(#e*s #ate!+ 9is!upting the gene can cause p!o(#e*s such as/ (!ain a(no!*a#ities and
(eha-io!a# p!o(#e*s in the futu!e .Sande!s/ '0102+ Scientists ha-e p!oof of this of cou!seC the
!esea!ch g!oup has e6pe!i*ented on *ice (& atte*pting to di*inish the schioph!enia acti-it& in
the *ice;s (!ains du!ing the de-e#op*ent stage+ Afte! a *onth o! so the !esea!ch g!oup noticed
that this )as ha-ing negati-e effects on the *ice and the& (egan to pe!fo!* )o!se on (eha-io!a#
tests+ .Sande!s/ '0102+ Sande!s .'0102 sa&s that in #ate! e6pe!i*ents/ the scientists t!eated the
GENETIC ASPECTS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA D
*ice )ith the schioph!enic d!ug ca##ed C#oapine+ C#oapine is ,no)n to !aise dopa*ine #e-e#s/
)hich is a neu!ot!ans*itte! fo!*ed in the (!ain+ The *ice (egan to pe!fo!* (ette! on the tests
that the *ice p!e-ious#& did poo!#& on+ No) scientists ,no) that inte!fe!ing at the adu#t stage
)o!,s *o!e efficient#& than )o!,ing ea!#& on in #ife .Sande!s/ '0102+ Resea!che!s hope to use
info!*ation f!o* these findings to )o!, on finding the gene.s2 that cause schioph!enia+
Occurrence
Acco!ding to A!ieti .'0112 schioph!enics occup& the *ost !oo*s in A*e!ican hospita#s
toda& *o!e than an& othe! *enta# i##ness+ A!ieti .'0112 a#so sa&s that in ps&chiat!ic hospita#s
44: of the peop#e the!e a!e schioph!enics/ (ecause a #ot of patients a!e &oung and the& *ust
sta& the!e fo! a #ong ti*e Schioph!enics usua##& sho) signs of schioph!enia f!o* an& ti*e
(et)een ado#escence to the age of 34+ Afte! the age of 34/ the chance of de-e#oping
schioph!enia sha!p#& dec!eases .A!ieti/ '0112+ A fai! a*ount of ps&cho#ogists (e#ie-e that chi#d
and adu#t schioph!enia a!e t)o diffe!ent catego!ies and shou#d (e t!eated as such+ Schioph!enia
is *o!e #i,e#& to occu! )hen the!e is a fa*i#& histo!& of the *enta# diso!de! .A!ieti/ '0112+ A#so/
docto!s (e#ie-e that o#de! fathe!s a!e *o!e #i,e#& to pass a#ong the schioph!enia gene than a
&ounge! fathe! is+ If a schioph!enic )e!e to ha-e a t)in/ the chances of the t)in a#so ha-ing
schioph!enia sha!p#& inc!eases .A!ieti/ '0112+
Causes and Genetics
Ps&chiat!ists and ps&cho#ogists ha-e *an& theo!ies conce!ning the causes of
schioph!enia+ So*e (e#ie-e that schioph!enia is causes (& ps&cho#ogica# facto!s/ such as a
poo! pa!ent<chi#d !e#ationship .A!ieti/ '0112+ Fo! e6a*p#e/ if a chi#d g!o)s up )ith a -e!& #o)
se#f<estee* and e6t!e*e an6iet&/ the chi#d *ight de-e#op schioph!enia #ate! in #ife+ Othe!s thin,
that schioph!enia is caused (& a che*ica# e!!o! in the (!ain/ (ut one of the *o!e accepted
GENETIC ASPECTS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA A
theo!ies is that schioph!enia is caused (& genetics .A!ieti/ '0112+ It is p!o-en that peop#e )ith a
fa*i#& *e*(e! )ith schioph!enia ha-e a highe! chance of de-e#oping schioph!enia a#so/ (ut
finding the gene.s2 that cause schioph!enia is difficu#t+ The effects of a sing#e gene a!e too s*a##
to identif&/ *a,ing it ha!d to find the gene.s2 that cause schioph!enia .Sande!s/ '0102+ Scientists
a!e )o!,ing di#igent#& to find ne) !is, genes and scientists a!e not gi-ing up an&ti*e soon+
Scientists a!e in-estigating (!ain tissue/ and #oo,ing at p!e-ious disco-e!ies conce!ning
schioph!enia/ (ut p!ofessiona#s a!e sti## st!ugg#ing to find the cause of schioph!enia .A!ieti/
'0112+
Treatments
"edica# p!ofessiona#s ha-e *u#tip#e *ethods fo! t!eating schioph!enia/ the *ost
co**on (eing ph&sica# *ethods+ Schioph!enics a!e *ost co**on#& t!eated )ith d!ugs to
!educe the s&*pto*s of schioph!enia+ .A!ieti/ '0112+ 9!ugs such as Tho!aine a!e used to
!educe e*otiona# st!ess+ @hen t!eated )ith d!ugs/ the patient;s s&*pto*s usua##& disappea!/ (ut
in se-e!e cases the s&*pto*s #inge!+ .A!ieti/ '0112+ So*e of the *o!e specia# *ethods a!e
e#ect!ic shoc, the!ap&/ insu#in t!eat*ent/ su!ge!&/ and ps&chothe!ap&+ Su!ge!& is !a!e#& used and
in-o#-ed sepa!ating ce!tain a!eas of the f!ont of the (!ain .A!ieti/ '0112+ One fo!* of t!eat*ent
that is !ecent#& (eing used it O6&tocin+ O6&tocin is a ho!*one found it (oth *a#e and fe*a#es
and is co**on#& !efe!!ed to as the >#o-e ho!*one? .@ang/ '0112+ O6&tocin is nic,na*ed this
fo! its a(i#it& to i*p!o-e so*eone;s a(i#it& to sense othe! peop#e;s e*otions+ Schioph!enics
often ha-e t!ou(#e socia#iing and the& tend not to sho) e*otion/ so docto!s suggested
schioph!enics inha#e puffs of O6&tocin .@ang/ '0112+ Scientists a!en;t su!e )h& O6&tocin has
this effect on peop#e/ (ut it is p!o-en to i*p!o-e the socia#s s,i##s of schioph!enics and *an&
othe! socia# diso!de!s .@ang/ '0112+
GENETIC ASPECTS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA 7
Conclusion
Schioph!enia is a co**on *enta# i##ness that causes peop#e )ith it to st!ugg#e )ith
e-e!&da& #ife+ This is an i*po!tant topic that !esea!che!s and docto!s shou#d focus on (ecause it;s
a *enta# i##ness that can (e found an&)he!e in the )o!#d+ Schioph!enia can affect peop#e;s #i-es
in a negati-e )a&/ so it is i*po!tant fo! !esea!che!s to find the gene.s2 that causes schioph!enia
in the nea! futu!e+ If scientists identif& the gene that causes schioph!enia/ the& can find (ette!
)a&s to t!eat schioph!enics+ So#-ing the *&ste!ies of schioph!enia cou#d change the )o!#d fo!
the (ette!+
GENETIC ASPECTS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA E
Refe!ences
A!ieti/ S+ .'0112+ Schioph!enia+ Enc&c#opedia A*e!icana+ Ret!ie-ed 8anua!& 10/ '013/
f!o* G!o#ie! On#ine http:55ea+g!o#ie!+co*5a!tic#eFidG013A3'0<00
Goff/ 9+ .'007/ 8u#& ''2+ Si#ent 9e*ons+ P!oHuest+ Ret!ie-ed 8anua!& 10/ '013/ f!o*
http:55s,s+si!s+co*5cgi<(in5hst<a!tic#e<disp#a&FidGSIC0007A<0<
10A4Ja!tnoG0000'74'31Jt&peGARTJshfi#te!GKJ,e&GSchioph!enia:'C:'0Genetic
:'0aspectsJtit#eGSi#ent:'09e*onsJ!esGLJ!enGLJgo-GLJ#n,GNJicGN
Sande!s/ $+ .'010/ Ap!i# 112+ Ea!#& 9is!uption of schioph!enia gene causes p!o(#e*s
#ate!+ sciencene)s+o!g+ Ret!ie-ed 8anua!& 11/ '013/ f!o* http:55go+ga#eg!oup+co*5ps5!et!ie-e+doF
sgHitCountT&peGNoneJso!tG9A<SORTJinPSGt!ueJp!odIdGGPSJuse!G!oupNa*e
The Histo!& of Schioph!enia+ .n+d+2+ The Histo!& of Schioph!enia+ Ret!ie-ed 8anua!&
11/ '013/ f!o* http:55)))+schioph!enia+co*5histo!&+ht*
@ade/ N+ .'007/ 8u#& 112+ Schioph!enia Studies Find Ne) Hu!d#es + SIRS Issues
Resea!che!+ Ret!ie-ed 8anua!& 10/ '013/ f!o* http:55s,s+si!s+co*5cgi<(in5hst<a!tic#e<disp#a&F
idGSIC0007A<0<10A4Ja!tnoG0000'7'413Jt&peGARTJshfi#te!GKJ,e&GSchioph!enia:'C
:'0Genetic:'0aspectsJtit#eGSchioph!enia:'0Studies:'0Find:'0Ne)
:'0Hu!d#esJ!esGLJ!enGLJgo-GLJ#n,GNJicG
@ang/ S+ .'011/ August 32+ Ho!*one "a& T!eat Autis*/ Socia# 9iso!de!+ Ret!ie-ed
8anua!& 11/ '013/ f!o* http:55s,s+si!s+co*5cgi<(in5hst<a!tic#e<disp#a&FidGSIC0007AH<0<
3440Ja!tnoG00001170D1Jt&peGARTJshfi#te!GKJ,e&GSchioph!eniaJtit#eGA:'0Ho!*one
:'0"a&:'0T!eat:'0Autis*:'C:'0Socia#
:'09iso!de!sJ!esGLJ!enGLJgo-GLJ#n,GNJic