Schizophrenia Disorder - Research Paper Example

Schizophrenia Disorder This paper explores some of the latest findings concerning schizophrenia disorder. Such findings include the latest genome advances that are associated with schizophrenia. The advancement is important in developing new interventions that can benefit patients, their family members and the wider society. In addition, new research also looks at the relationship that exists between schizophrenia and history of substance abuse. In advancing research into schizophrenia disorder, this paper also explores the benefits of integrated treatment versus treatment as usual with regard to recent onset schizophrenia. Other factors highlighted in this paper include the possibility of social factor contributing to the development of schizophrenia. Introduction Schizophrenia denotes a mental disorder that normally appears for instance, in the adolescent stage or in early adulthood stage. However, this disorder can also at any age in a person’s lifetime. Schizophrenia is among the diseases that affects the brain; thus, causing the affected to experience delusions, confusion and in extreme cases, schizophrenia also causes psychosis. In most cases, individuals suffering from this disorder often claim of hearing voices that in real sense are imaginations. On the same note, other victims of this disorder often claim about other people controlling their minds or are against them. This often result in distress among persons suffering from Schizophrenia and makes them to be self-withdrawn and frantic. Schizophrenia also affect the patient’s family members since the persons suffering from this disorder are forced to rely on significant others since they cannot care for themselves or survive alone. However, accessing proper treatment plays a role in ensuring that the victims of schizophrenia lead a productive life. This result from the fact that treatment is vital in minimizing the symptoms associated with Schizophrenia. Conversely, it is also true that most patients suffering from this disorder have to embattle with symptoms associated with Schizophrenia for life. According to past studies, it is evident that schizophrenia is most common at the age between 15-25 years in men and 25-35 in women. This disorder in most cases develops gradually that the person affected does not realize they are suffering from the disorder. However, the disorder is also known to strike suddenly on other people and develop rapidly (Cantor-Graae, 2012), this paper explores recent findings related to the Schizophrenia disorder. Latest genome advances in Schizophrenia The new advancement in genome technology has resulted in a new wave of genetic studies related to complex diseases. At present, a number of loci can be associated with GWAS (Genome-Wide Association Studies) of schizophrenia and at precise, genome-wide levels of statistical significance. On another note, the risks that alleles identify in GWAS associated with Schizophrenia are also implicated in the bipolar disorder. In addition, the risk alleles related to bipolar disorder are also implicated in schizophrenia. In essence, this finding indicates a significant overlap with regard to the common risk alleles associated with Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (Doherty, O’Donovan & Owen, 2012). The recent evidence provided by GWAS and other studies examines the validity related to the binary categorical diagnostic classification for both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The GWAS further looks at the implications for the disorders when approach from a scientific and clinical point of view. Other recent findings from GWAS in schizophrenia suggest a common risk alleles despite being substantial is insufficient in terms of accounting for all genetic risks associated with schizophrenia. In addition, the recent GWAS in schizophrenia also suggest the rare role that alleles are likely to play (Doherty, O’Donovan & Owen, 2012). On another note, a combined analysis of samples from GWAS schizophrenia can only reveal a minimal number of common risk loci in relation to genome-wide levels of significance. As a result, this only explains a small part of risk; conversely, evidence from other common traits indicates that, the identity of genes implicated suggests the possibility of a disease mechanism. In essence, the recent advancement with regard to genomic technology and in this sense, the use of GWAS platform has contributed to new findings related to schizophrenia disorder. On the same note, positive results have been realized with regard to the study of common and rare variants. This has indicated a range of risk alleles; however, each allele has also been identified to contribute only a small fraction associated with the population variance. In general, GWAS that is associated with schizophrenia has continued to lag behind compared to studies related to other diseases. This result from the difficulty of obtaining sufficient samples related to phenotyped cases (Doherty, O’Donovan & Owen, 2012). Studies have often focused on limited cases; thus, controls only identify a small fraction of the loci that can be identified appropriately by using larger samples. In addition, when comparing the studies of other complex diseases with schizophrenia suggests that schizophrenia as a disease is not atypical as evident in the number of loci identified per sample size. However, larger studies can identify a significant number of such loci and result in reliability that benefits pathway analyses. It is the hope that future research in genetics will provide an improved understanding regarding pathogenic mechanism and a more improved disorder classification. This in turn will contribute to new interventions that benefit patients, their family members and the wider society (Doherty, O’Donovan & Owen, 2012). Findings regarding movement disorders in patients suffering from schizophrenia and a history of substance abuse This study aimed at investigating the difference associated with the occurrence of parkinsonian, akathisia and dystonia symptoms and tardive dyskinesia among patients with schizophrenia. In addition, history of substance abuse was a factor considered in this study. The patients in the study were aged between 28 and 48 years and in which, the sample population had more men than women. In the study, the results supported the hypothesis that patients suffering from schizophrenia and also have a history of substance abuse, are at risk of displaying an excess of akathisia (Lars, Bina, Deborah & David, 2013). Integrated treatment vs. treatment-as-usual for recent onset schizophrenia In this study, the purpose involves comparing the 12-year follow up effects on both in patients and outpatients services associated with an integrated treatment. The focus on early interventions related to psychosis and initiating treatment at critical stage has contributed to the creation of time limited and specialized early interventions. The purpose of these early interventions is to reduce the period that it takes to treat psychosis, preventing relapses and enhancing prognosis; in this sense, three early intervention strategies have been identified. This includes an intervention that targets young individuals considered to be at high risk becoming psychotic, establishing early identification programs and developing specialized services to help patients diagnosed recently with established psychosis (Vioir, Rolf & Gunnar, 2013). On the other hand, the Randomized Control Trials have provided a promising outcome associated with early-specialized interventions. In addition, the trials in this study also suggest that early interventions with regard to psychosis are cost effective when compared to the standard care. However, from the study, what is unclear is the long term effects associated with early intervention treatment of psychosis. On another note, the findings in this study further strengthens the outcomes from previous studies that suggest an unsustainable short term effects regarding early time-limited integrated treatment (Vioir, Rolf & Gunnar, 2013). However, from the study, it is evident that involuntary treatment of persons suffering from schizophrenia can be avoided by through early-integrated treatment efforts. In addition, this study is important for future research in that it brings into focus the need to give attention on different aspects of recovery. Moreover, there is a need to introduce psychological treatments for schizophrenia and as such, research should be carried out on the effects of various emerging and integrative forms of psychotherapy. Additional knowledge is also important in terms of identifying poor and positive outcome associated with schizophrenia during the early stages of the illness. This is important in terms of facilitating optimal distribution of health resources (Vioir, Rolf & Gunnar, 2013). Recent findings on the contribution of social factors in the development of schizophrenia This study provides evidence that support the idea that social factors have an influence in the development of schizophrenia. From the findings, it is evident that high risk for schizophrenia cannot be related only to biological or genetic factors. Childhood exposure and in particular to social diversity can be identified as a risk factor for schizophrenia. In addition, the increase of risks associated with schizophrenia can be associated with social causation; however, such findings to an extent are considered ambiguous. As such there is no actual mechanism to indicate that exposure to social factors contributes to psychotic symptoms. In regard to accumulative evidence, social factors play an important role concerning the development of schizophrenia. However, there is need for further research to investigate the social causation; this is important in clarifying the temporal relation that exists between exposure to social diversity and the development of psychotic symptoms (Cantor-Graae, 2012). Conclusion Schizophrenia as a mental disorder that continues to affect people in the society requires a continuous research to come up with ways of dealing with the disorder. This include coming up with better intervention methods and treatment. Further research is also important in discovering latest development regarding the pharmacology of treating schizophrenia. References Cantor-Graae, E. (2012).The Contribution of Social Factors to the Development of Schizophrenia: A Review of Recent Findings. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 52 (5), 277-286. Doherty, J.L., O’Donovan, M.C., & Owen, M.J. (2012). Recent genomic advances in schizophrenia. Clinical Genetics, 81(2), 103-109. Lars, K.H., Bina, N., Deborah, H., & David, K. (2013).Movement disorders in patients with schizophrenia and a history of substance abuse. Human Psychopharmacology Clinical: Experience & Experimental, Vol.28 (2), 192-197. Vioir, S., Rolf, W.G., & Gunnar, M. (2013).Integrated treatment vs. treatment-as-usual for recent onset schizophrenia; 12 year follow-up on a randomized controlled trial. BMC Psychiarty, 13(4), 200. Read More