It is well accepted that schizophrenia has many different causes that presumably lead to similar symptoms/syndromes. What do you think the convergence mechanisms and pathways are in schizophrenia?
To start off the conversation, an obvious convergent pathway leading to psychosis is dopamine. Any opinions of upstream factors leading to dopamine-induced psychosis? I am personally a fan of the glutamate hypothesis.
And given that humans contain differing levels (on a daily, and individual basis) of neurotransmitters, which affects and is affected by genetic factors (which are derived from the environment, 'biology' or both), structural abnormalities or 'normalities' (or shadow syndromes, i.e., Ratey), psychological and sociological factors and to me, one of the most important is how this mix is introduced to reality through its mother, typically, making perception, perceptual skills and perceputal trajectories of the highest importance. HIlde Bruch M.D. lived among schizophrenic families and noticed distinct material perceptual patterns that definitely affected the (eventually diagnosed as schizophrenic) individual's ability to KNOW. Absolutely I can imagine a feeling of being 'off' perceptually, and how that my affect dopamine levels, just as the opposite may function.
@ Nathanael Yates: I deem that 1) altered (alleviated) PI3K/Akt-mediated CREB activation and further decrease in BDNF and/ or c-Fos expression(s) as well as activated GSK-3beta and declined beta-catenin mediated neuronal apoptosis might have a role in diminished dopaminergic functions and consequent schizophrenic pathology. 2) Besides, neuropsychologicalimmunology based hypothesis (Stress - Fas/TNF/Interleukin/Caspase activation-mediated dopaminergic neuronal apoptosis) is also proposed as an upstream pathway underpinning schizophrenic pathology. But, the additional role of these upstream signals in the GABA-ergic and Glutaminergic neurons could not be ignored.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Geoscience
- Asia
- India