Schizophrenia is one of the most prominent mental disorders observed in individuals. It is characterized by psychological symptoms such as abnormal social conduct and failure to comprehend what is real. In many instances, Schizophrenia is coupled with other problems such as major depressive illness, anxiety disorders, and substance abuse. The symptoms associated with this illness are long-lasting and grow in severity over time. Many studies have been committed to understanding Schizophrenia and its most effective interventions. Other studies have been conducted to understand the impact of substance abuse in enhancing Schizophrenic tendencies in individuals . This paper will corroborate two studies to provide a comprehensive insight into nature of and interventions associated with Schizophrenia.
The first study is an article titled “The Calcium-Sensitive Sigma-1 Receptor Prevents Cannabinoids From Provoking Glutamate NMDA Receptor Hypofunction: Implications Antinociception And Psychotic Diseases”. The article presents a study conducted by experts within the Neuropsychopharmacology. It looks at the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) and how it plays its role within the endocannabinoid system in maintaining the glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activities in containable limits. For this level to be attained , the article opines that the cannabinoids must be in equal quantities to the stimulus. This is fundamental to avoid the exaggerated hypofunction or overactivation that may bring about psychosis symptoms (Sánchez-Blázquez et al., 2014). The researchers have expressed through experiments that the re is a high possibility for analgesia and neuroprotection as CB1-NMDAR connection reporters. The study conclu ded that the Sigma 1 receptor can function as safety switch “releasing NMDARs from the influence of CB1s and thereby avoid glutamate hypofunction” (Sánchez-Blázquez et al., 2014). These experiments are conducted using mice. When the Sigma 1 receptors are used , the NMDARs activity increases and cannot be controlled adequately by the cannabinoids above. The experiment also confirms that NMDAR antagonism creates zero effect on cannabinoid analgesia. The study concludes that the Sigma 1 receptors determine the extent of the CB1-NMDAR interaction takes place (Sánchez-Blázquez et al., 2014). The article further notes that the failure of the interaction may precipitate element vulnerability for cannabis abuse which precipitates schizophrenia in individuals.
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The next article, Treatment of Refractory Catatonic Schizophrenia with Low Dose Aripiprazole delves into catatonic schizophrenia and treatment resistance. The authors look at this type of schizophrenia and how i t respon ds to various treatments . The article begins by defining Catatonia , a kind of schizophrenia which is characterized by “motoric immobility such as catalepsy or stupor, mutism, and negativism “ (Sasaki et al., 2012). The study is based on the inefficiencies established regarding inefficient interventions such as NMDA antagonists and antipsychotics. They are seen as negative in containing catatonia because they “worsen symptomatology” while at the same time creating the risk of “inducing neuroleptic malignant syndrome .” (Sasaki et al., 2012). However, this article through a case study of a Catatonia patient establishes that “Aripiprazole, a dopamine D2 receptor partial agonist, is different from other atypical antipsychotics” (Sasaki et al., 2012). With small doses of Aripiprazole , as per the case study, the Catatonia patient showed re mark able improvement. This was after failing to respond to risperidone, ECT, and olanzapine. The study concludes that the patient was successfully treated using low-dose aripiprazole monotherapy for an elderly female patient after electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in a general defective state and stuporous catatonia.
Multiple Choice questions
Stupor can be observed in one of the following medical conditions . Which one ?
Depression
Shock
Catatonia
Dissociative disorder
Organic brain disorder
Which among the following descriptions represent s grossly disorganized behavior associated with Schizophrenia?
Agitated and unpredictable behavior
Behavior which may termed as inappropriate.
Childlike behavior which may be deemed inappropriate for the person’s chronological age.
Article available at: http://download.springer.com/static/pdf/997/art%253A10.1186%252F1744-859X-11-12.pdf?originUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fannals-general-psychiatry.biomedcentral.com%2Farticle%2F10.1186%2F1744-859X-11-12&token2=exp=1474494019~acl=%2Fstatic%2Fpdf%2F997%2Fart%25253A10.1186%25252F1744-859X-11-12.pdf*~hmac=140cd3243bef4294ff081f9f2c459a5067f82597af88ffa286d5078b982e3799
References
Sánchez-Blázquez, P., Rodríguez-Muñoz, M., Herrero-Labrador, R., Burgueño, J., Zamanillo, D., & Garzón, J. (2014). The calcium-sensitive Sigma-1 receptor prevents cannabinoids from provoking glutamate NMDA receptor hypofunction: implications in antinociception and psychotic diseases. The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology , 17 (12), 1943-1955. doi:10.1017/s1461145714000029
Sasaki, T., Hashimoto, T., Niitsu, T., Kanahara, N., & Iyo, M. (2012). Treatment of refractory catatonic schizophrenia with low dose aripiprazole. Ann Gen Psychiatry , 11 (1), 12. doi:10.1186/1744-859x-11-12
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