Bethesda, Md. Researchers have uncovered fresh insights regarding the genetic links to schizophrenia. In a study to be published in the August 17 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry, Amanda J. Law, a National Science Foundation Fellow and Associate Professor at Harvard University and Visiting Scientist at the National Institutes of Health, along with her associates at the NIH, have detailed—for the very first time—a specific genetic variation that triggers the overexpression of a gene within the human brain. Could these findings pave the way for more effective pharmacological treatments for schizophrenia?
While the precise etiology of schizophrenia remains elusive, the scientific consensus suggests that genetic variations play a significant role, according to Law. These variations are notoriously difficult to decipher because they do not directly impair protein function. In this investigation, the team pinpointed specific indicators regarding the malfunction caused by one such DNA variation.
The significance of this research is underscored by its selection as a paper of the week by the journal's editors, placing it within the top one percent of reviewed literature based on impact and importance.
Previously, Scientists originally found in a US population that genetic variations in a DNA sequence near the gene responsible for producing Neuregulin 1 were linked to schizophrenia, yet the mechanism affecting the Neuregulin 1 gene remained a mystery.
In 2006, Law and colleagues found that one of these variations is associated with increased expression of a novel type of Neuregulin 1 called Type 4, one of the six known types of Neuregulin 1 proteins in the brains of patients with schizophrenia.
The role of this protein in the brain is not completely understood, but the other types of Neuregulin 1 proteins are involved in controlling how the brain develops and works in adults. Through this work, Law and colleagues showed that Neuregulin 1 Type 4 is specifically expressed in the '"/>
Contact: Pat Pages ppages@asbmb.org 301-634-7366 American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology August 9, 2007
Page: 1 2 3
Related biology news:
1. Genetic factors heavily influence peer selection 2. Genetic analysis identifies heightened threat from frog-killing fungus 3. Genetic diversity in honeybee colonies increases productivity 4. 2007-2008 Genzyme/ACMGF Clinical Genetics Fellowship in Biochemical Genetics Award winner announced 5. Maynard Olson receives $500,000 Gruber Genetics Prize 6. Genetic defect links respiratory disease and congenital heart disease 7. Cell Press announces new partnership with the American Society of Human Genetics 8. Genetic fellow traveler discovered in Alzheimer's 9. Genetic roots of bipolar disorder revealed by first genome-wide study of illness 10. Health disparities: how genetics, society, and race impact healthcare access 11. Genetic studies grant mice enhanced color vision
stormyfox72 said:I’ll be honest, I’m a total pessimist. I don't brag about it—actually, it's pretty embarrassing—but I constantly feel like something terrible is about to happen to me. It feels like luck just isn't on my side. Ever. It’s getting to the point where the feeling itself is starting to scare me, and I don't know how to shake it. Meanwhile, when anyone else needs support, I always manage to give them a positive response. 🤷😕😕
Maybe you should just learn to stop giving a damn.
Austin Carter6 said:So... I think this is the schizophrenia subforum, right? If so, I guess that means I can ask whatever's on my mind regarding this topic, though I'm really hoping someone might actually have an answer for me. How does creativity actually show up in people with schizophrenia? To be more specific... just how creative are they, really? And I mean, does the creativity stem from the schizophrenia itself, or is it maybe more like the schizophrenia comes from being a creative person?
I would lean toward the latter. If one lacks creativity, they simply lack it, but it is far better to be both neurotypical and creative.👍 Medical literature generally states that mental illnesses and even schizophrenia does not impair a patient's intellect, so you decide.☕
driftingorca13 said:So, I just got back from a run through Central Park; it was actually a great workout... To give you some context on what’s been happening: as I mentioned before, I started writing everything down because my mind was racing constantly with these wild thoughts. It might have been triggered by attending a philosophy seminar at a local community center—a group a doctor recommended I join after she suggested it to me herself. Once I realized how quickly ideas would hit me, I actually ran out of paper and started scrawling notes on my bedroom walls (I eventually wiped most of it off once things settled down). Days were blurring together; it felt like I wasn't even living them, like life was just happening to me without any control. People around me were staring, acting curious, even asking if I was on drugs... I had this overwhelming sensation that the entire world revolved around me, that everyone knew something I didn't. I even felt like I was being watched. Eventually, a friend from college drove me to see a chaplain to figure out what was going on. He spent about ten minutes questioning me about substance use, and I kept insisting I wasn't on drugs, just following my prescription medication. He could tell I was okay and let me go. That friend ended up entering the seminary later, though he fell in love and moved back to study engineering at NYU after a year, but that's another story. The best way to describe my experience is John Nash in *A Beautiful Mind*. That movie captures exactly how I lived, minus the hallucinations. Anyway, I managed to finish the semester successfully thanks to a lot of support from friends and family, and I even passed that one exam that was killing me. I also started seeing a psychotherapist (which is a much better solution for people dealing with issues: a good therapist can help you feel steady without relying solely on meds), and everything returned to normal after the New Year. However, next summer, while trying to wrap up a major project for another class, the stress hit me hard and I started slipping again. I began having these delusions, like a news anchor on CNN was addressing me personally... kind of like that song "I'm Getting Slightly Mad." The breaking point was seeing a message on a random girl's T-shirt at the dermatologist's office: "I want you to be with me tonight." It made me wonder if everything over the last year was real or just in my head—if people were actually sending me these subtle romantic signals. Everything felt similar to the first time, just on a smaller scale: I wasn't writing on walls or questioning everyone, I just fell into a depression and skipped classes for a while. My family freaked out at first (since dropping out right before graduation isn't ideal), but they eventually stepped up to help, and the result was just returning to my previous treatment. As time passed, I started finding my footing again. I have a follow-up appointment with my psychiatrist next week... and I'll be starting that dance class she recommended soon...
As for the causes... from what I can gather, there were several: my sex life, which I've suppressed since childhood due to my Catholic upbringing. Also, reading the Da Vinci Code beforehand really shook the core beliefs I grew up with. But the real trigger was a night of heavy drinking on February 9th, 2006—I remember it clearly because that's when it all started. I went out with friends and we were drinking at someone's apartment. When we headed out into the city, I told them I couldn't have any more because I knew I'd lose control, but they didn't listen. I ended up leaving them in the middle of the night and sat on a bench at a bus stop, basically pouring my soul out to anyone passing by. Then an old acquaintance from elementary school walked up and said, "Man, look what you've done to yourself." I don't remember much after that; I just woke up at home the next day and stayed in bed for a week...
A recent study published in The New England Journal of Medicine indicates that marijuana use increases the risk of developing psychiatric disorders and mood swings later in life by over 40 percent. Furthermore, heavy users are twice as likely to face mental health struggles, according to warnings from Theresa Moore and Stanley Zammit at the University of Philadelphia.
The experts concluded that individuals who have used marijuana are 41 percent more likely to experience psychosis compared to those who have never used it. This risk scales with frequency; the most frequent users face double the likelihood of psychological issues.
By analyzing 35 different studies conducted over recent years, Moore and Zammit focused specifically on the link between marijuana and chronic mental illness, though they did not rule out other contributing factors to mental health.
That article was in the Los Angeles Times back in 1996. I read it and wonder if I would be healthy if I hadn't smoked weed? Honestly, I doubt it. Maybe there is a 0.5% chance. The paradox is that I probably would have smoked that grass sooner or later anyway; at least this way, I got used to my disorder earlier.👍☕
I don't believe this is being taken seriously enough. Some people ought to approach matters with more gravity, considering we are the most intelligent species known to exist.
Schizoaffective Disorder American Psychiatric Association DSM-5 diagnostic criteria
1. An uninterrupted period of illness during which, at some time, there is either (1) a Major Depressive Episode, (2) a Manic Episode, or (3) a Mixed Episode concurrent with symptoms that meet (4) Criterion a for Schizophrenia.
note: The major Depressive Episode must include depressed mood.
(1) Criteria for major Depressive Episode * Five (or more) of the following symptoms have been present during the same 2-week period and represent a change from previous functioning; at least one of the symptoms is either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure.
Note: Do not include symptoms that are clearly due to a general medical condition, or mood-incongruent delusions or hallucinations. 1. depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either subjective report (e.g., feels sad or empty) or observation made by others (e.g., appears tearful). Note: In children and adolescents, can be irritable mood. 2. markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day (as indicated by either subjective account or observation made by others) 3. significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain (e.g., a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month), or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day. Note: In children, consider failure to make expected weight gains. 4. insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day 5. psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down) 6. fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day 7. feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt (which may be delusional) nearly every day (not merely self-reproach or guilt about being sick) 8. diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day (either by subjective account or as observed by others) 9. recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide * The symptoms do not meet criteria for a Mixed Episode * Mixed Episode * The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social * The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition (e.g., hypothyroidism). * The symptoms are not better accounted for by Bereavement, i.e., after the loss of a loved one, the symptoms persist for longer than 2 months or are characterized by marked functional impairment, morbid preoccupation with worthlessness, suicidal ideation, psychotic symptoms, or psychomotor retardation.
(2) Criteria for Manic Episode * A distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood, lasting at least 1 week (or any duration if hospitalization is necessary). * During the period of mood disturbance, three (or more) of the following symptoms have persisted (four if the mood is only irritable) and have been present to a significant degree: 1. inflated self-esteem or grandiosity 2. decreased need for sleep (e.g., feels rested after only 3 hours of sleep) 3. more talkative than usual or pressure to keep talking 4. flight of ideas or subjective experience that thoughts are racing 5. distractibility (i.e., attention too easily drawn to unimportant or irrelevant external stimuli) 6. an uptick in goal-oriented actions (whether in social circles, professional environments, academia, or intimacy) or heightened psychomotor agitation 7. overindulgence in enjoyable pursuits that carry a high risk of negative outcomes (such as impulsive shopping binges, reckless sexual behavior, or ill-advised financial gambles) * The presentation fails to satisfy the requirements for a Mixed Episode * The emotional disruption is intense enough to significantly disrupt professional duties or standard social interactions and relationships, or requires inpatient care to ensure safety, or involves psychotic symptoms. * These manifestations aren't caused by the immediate physiological impact of a substance (like recreational drugs, prescription meds, or other therapies) or an underlying medical issue (like hyperthyroidism).
(3) Criteria for Mixed Episode * Both the requirements for a Manic Episode and a Major Depressive Episode (with the exception of timing) are fulfilled almost daily over a minimum 1-week span. * The emotional instability is severe enough to result in major impairment to work performance or typical social life and connections, or necessitates hospital intervention to mitigate risk of harm, or presents with psychotic elements. * The symptoms are not the direct result of a substance (e.g., illicit drugs, medications, or alternative treatments) or a systemic medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism).
(4) Criterion A of Schizophrenia * At least two of the following must be evident for most of a 1-month period (unless effectively managed): o delusions o hallucinations o disorganized speech (for instance, constant loss of focus or lack of coherence) o highly disorganized or catatonic conduct o negative symptoms, such as diminished emotional expression, poverty of speech, or lack of motivation * Just one symptom suffices if the delusions are irrational or if hallucinations involve a voice providing a continuous commentary on the individual's actions or thoughts, or multiple voices interacting with one another. 2. Within that same timeframe of illness, delusions or hallucinations have persisted for at least 2 weeks without the presence of dominant mood symptoms. 2. Mood-related symptoms meeting established criteria are present throughout a large portion of the overall duration of both the active and residual phases of the illness. 4. The disturbance isn't a byproduct of the direct physical effects of a substance (such as narcotics or medication) or a general medical condition.
Define the subtype:
* Bipolar Type: when the disturbance encompasses a Manic or a Mixed Episode (or both a Manic/Mixed Episode alongside Major Depressive Episodes) * Depressive Type: when the disturbance consists solely of Major Depressive Episodes
Differential Diagnosis
Psychotic Disorder stemming from a general medical condition, delirium, or dementia; Substance-Induced Psychotic Disorder; Substance-Induced Delirium; Delusional Disorder; Psychotic Disorder Not Otherwise Specified.
Alex Ruiz4 said:It’s honestly wild how much love and understanding he gets from everyone. We all bend over backward at home to accommodate him—we don't push his buttons, and we barely even complain. He actually gets along fine with us; it's not like he holds anything against us. The whole house really tries, and he’s usually quite cheerful—especially during the summer, he's almost always in good spirits. The issue is that he isn't really living in this reality. Sometimes things get heavy for him, and he falls into these deep bouts of sadness. It usually happens when the seasons shift from summer to winter, but it can happen anytime. During those episodes, he just cries and sobs, and he won't let anyone near him because he feels like we're intruding. He’s completely lost in whatever is going on inside his own head. But he doesn't lash out physically or anything like that.
I'll check out the Pfizer website. Thanks. I might reach out again if I need more info. Tell me though—if even his own family can't figure out what's wrong, is he really in bad shape?
He’s been diagnosed with schizophrenia, some specific type, though I'm not entirely sure which one. He deals with auditory hallucinations and imagines all sorts of things. My main concern is that nobody seems to be taking a specialized, proactive approach to it. No one is truly monitoring his condition. Things weren't much better in the beginning; he'd chat with a psychiatrist here and there, but nothing substantial ever came of it. Even back then, I had this nagging feeling that no one believed any real progress could be made.
I'm not even certain if his current meds are the best fit, since I'm not 100% sure if his behavior is directly tied to them. I'll tell my mom to make sure he takes them strictly on schedule. Right now, it's Risperdal and Lexapro... what's the deal with those? Are they safe? Are they considered high-quality options, or should he be looking into a third alternative? He took Haldol before, but it gave him terrible headaches. Are those among the strongest antipsychotics out there?
Also, where am I supposed to take him? He isn't acting out or losing control, so I don't think a hospital ward is the right move. Maybe some kind of specialized outpatient facility? Does something like that exist? Where would I find it?
Patients on Risperdal and Lexapro are rarely managed through outpatient care. If you, as his family, aren't even sure what's going on with him, then he is truly screwed. ☕
There is absolutely no way he’s that irrational and unwell without having been hospitalized at some point. Is it possible his family isn't being entirely honest?
Kyle Nelson2 said:@Toco Look, you’re going to be hearing comments like this all the time... That’s just the kind of mindset where people try to normalize negativity or sickness just because it happens all the time. I guess it's like saying because everyone gets sick, it shouldn't be a big deal. It's a total cop-out, really. Regarding that whole thing where you’re basically condemned to suffer beforehand... like, being forced through this misery and then eventually dealing with the mental health fallout from it all. I mean, what kind of diagnosis do you actually have, Kenneth Price74?
stop philosophizing. I had to change myself because the healthy people weren't around me. what deep philosophy is that?☕
Megan White4 said:Everything she imagines becomes an absolute necessity, regardless of logic or reason. Of course, trying to reason with her is a completely futile exercise.
We can't bring ourselves to toss out her belongings, even when they’re ancient or worn out, but anything that isn't hers just becomes clutter that could actually be useful...
Whenever she decides she needs to buy something—even if we don't need it at all—she spends whatever it costs. Then she has the nerve to lecture me about "going broke" when I need cash for gas or unexpected car repairs.
She nitpicks every tiny, insignificant detail, and nothing I do ever seems to be quite right.
She insists on doing everything herself, only to complain later about how much she has to carry.
The moment I question her actions, she immediately starts the theatrics, acting like the entire world is out to get her.
My patience is wearing thin because her constant nagging and whims seem to escalate every single day... 🙄 ...while my father was still around, he managed to handle her somehow, but now (since I'm just a kid to her, it feels like I'm talking to a brick wall no matter what I say)... 🙄
Mental patients who lack wealthy families require assistance, not affection, but capital. Funds for electricity, food, clothing, heating, even basic entertainment—these resources could save lives that would otherwise be lost to suicide. We are discussing adults, not children. Employers won't hire them, and social security benefits are practically non-existent; if they do receive anything, it’s barely enough for $333. Since almost no one on this forum has taken me seriously for over a year now, I will have to seek help in the real world. Today, Kathryn Janeway. ☕
Even when serum lithium levels stay under 1 mmol/L, adverse effects mild may still occur. The most frequent issues are initial postabsorptive symptoms, likely caused by a rapid spike in serum lithium concentrations. These include gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea, vertigo, muscle weakness, and a dazed sensation; these typically vanish once therapy stabilizes. More common and lasting reactions involve a fine hand tremor and, occasionally, fatigue, thirst, polyuria, and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. Does this necessitate a dose reduction? Not necessarily.
Toxic reactions ranging from mild to moderate can manifest at lithium concentrations between 1.5 and 2 mmol/L, while moderate to severe reactions emerge at concentrations exceeding 2 mmol/L.
Some patients might face lithium accumulation during the start of therapy, which can escalate to toxic levels and demand an immediate stop to the medication. Certain elderly patients with reduced renal clearance for lithium may also suffer varying degrees of toxicity, necessitating a dosage cut or a temporary pause in treatment. For those with standard renal clearance, however, toxic symptoms tend to follow a predictable pattern tied to serum lithium levels. Transient gastrointestinal symptoms are usually the first sign. A mild hand tremor might persist throughout the course of treatment. Thirst and polyuria may then lead to increased drowsiness, ataxia, tinnitus, and blurred vision—all indicators of early intoxication. As intoxication worsens, one may encounter confusion, increasing disorientation, muscle twitching, hyperreflexia, nystagmus, seizures, diarrhea, vomiting, and ultimately, coma or death.
The following adverse effects have been reported usually related to serum lithium concentrations:
Neurologic: General muscle weakness, ataxia, tremor, muscle hyperirritability (including fasciculation, twitching—particularly in facial muscles—and clonic limb movements), choreoathetotic movement, and hyperactive deep tendon reflexes.
CNS: Skin anesthesia, slurred speech, blurred vision, blackouts, headaches, seizures, cranial nerve involvement, psychomotor retardation, somnolence, toxic confusional states, restlessness, stupor, coma, and acute dystonia. Recorded EEG changes included diffuse slowing, a widened frequency spectrum, and the potentiation and disorganization of background rhythms. Sensitivity to hyperventilation and paroxysmal bilateral synchronous delta activity has also been noted.
Cardiovascular: Arrhythmia, hypotension, ECG changes such as flattened or inverted T waves, peripheral circulatory failure, and cardiac collapse.
Genitourinary: Albuminuria, oliguria, polyuria, and glycosuria.
Allergic: Allergic vasculitis.
Dermatologic: Dry, thinning hair, leg ulcers, skin rashes, and pruritus.
Hematologic: Anemia, leucopenia, and leucocytosis.
Metabolic: Transient hyperglycemia, slight elevations in plasma magnesium, and goiter formation.
In some patients, nontoxic diffuse or nodular goiters have developed following the start of therapy, seemingly independent of other signs of lithium toxicity. Decreased PBI and increased I(131) uptake have also been documented.
Hypercalcemia linked to lithium-induced hyperparathyroidism has also been reported.
Miscellaneous: General fatigue, dehydration, and peripheral edema.
mistybison said:Consider the possibility that tomorrow might not come, and that this exact moment is truly all you possess. Whatever happened is already gone; the memories we hold are just our own subjective interpretations, often far removed from the actual truth of what occurred. As for the future—if it’s something you want, you won't summon it through intense worrying, and if it’s something you fear, no amount of endless anxiety will prevent it. Instead, engage the world through your senses. Truly look, listen, and touch the things around you. Don't think about them; simply experience them. Experience yourself experiencing them. Find pleasure in great music, feel the chill of the breeze, or marvel at the subtle shades of blue on a book spine. 😉 That is the only reality you truly have and inhabit. 🙂
The less the mind is burdened by constant analysis and loops of thought, the more open the path to intuition becomes. This is when brilliant ideas tend to surface, often providing instant solutions to our problems. The more we observe, notice, and immerse ourselves in the immediate experience of reality, the more we actually see. Otherwise, we miss so much because the mind is too busy turning inward, obsessing over the same repetitive thoughts. Remember, the mind is always running; overthinking provides no control over ourselves or the world around us. 🙂
In 1948, within its founding constitution, the World Health Organization established... The World Health Organization. Defined? Is that really all there is to it? One word, tossed out like an afterthought. Does anyone actually intend to provide substance here, or are we just wasting space? Health? A vague concept. Is it merely the absence of disease, or something more profound? Most people wander through life without a single thought regarding their physical integrity. They consume processed garbage and wonder why their energy levels crater by noon. Does anyone actually take responsibility? Or do we simply wait for a doctor to tell us what we already know? True vitality requires discipline, not just luck. Is it not defined as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, rather than just the simple absence of disease or infirmity? Is there any substance left to this discussion? Is anyone actually paying attention? More information is required. It seems we are merely circling the drain of indecision. Where is the data? Where is the actual proof? We cannot proceed on mere assumptions. One must wonder if anyone here values clarity over convenience. Proceed with caution.In recent years, what has actually changed? Is anyone truly paying attention? The language has been amended. It now explicitly incorporates the capacity to lead a life that is both socially and economically productive. In the medical field, what constitutes true health? Is it merely the absence of disease, or is it something more profound? In the field of alternative medicine the term used to describe one's overall state of being is wellness. Can we truly separate the two? The technical designation for health is homeostasis. It is defined as an organism's capacity to respond efficiently to various stressors and its ability to effectively restore and maintain a "state of balance." In the field of alternative medicine the term used to describe one's overall state of being is wellness. In the field of alternative medicine, the term used to describe one's overall state of being is wellness. Is that not clear enough?
Donna Sullivan7 said:Kenneth Price74, it would be really classy if you just kept those thoughts to yourself, especially when you’re just tearing people down...
Is it considered "bad manners" to tell a patient they are facing a lifelong condition? Is it wrong to admit there are no perfect cures or complete understandings regarding such illnesses? Once a patient faces that reality, they can actually move forward with their life, knowing that their own actions play a role in the process. Does this mean psychoses aren't an excuse? Perhaps. But we cannot claim they don't exist either. When future medical breakthroughs finally uncover the mechanisms behind these diseases—or perhaps even a cure—who do you think will get access first? Certainly not the average person. It will reach the millionaires and billionaires long before anyone else.