Common Causes Of Schizophrenia And Bipolar Disorder
Main Category: SchizophreniaAlso Included In: Bipolar; Mental Health
Article Date: 18 Jan 2009 - 0:00 PDT
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Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder have the same genetic causes, according to a study from Karolinska Institutet published today in the highly respected journal The Lancet. The results throw the current separate classification of the diseases into question.
Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (also known as manic-depressive illness) are the two most common psychotic disorders. For over a century, the two diseases have been treated as distinct by clinical practitioners and researchers as regards definitions and risk factors. However, such strict classification has met increasing scepticism over the years, partly owing to the results of modern genetic science, which has shown that certain genes seem to affect both disorders.
To study whether schizophrenia and bipolar disorder have the same genetic causes, Swedish scientists analysed the records of two million families, including 35,985 patients with schizophrenia, 40,487 patients with bipolar disorder, and the blood relatives of both.
Their results show that members of families in which someone has either schizophrenia or bipolar disorder run an increased risk of developing the same condition. The results also show that this is chiefly the result of genetic factors, and only slightly due to shared environmental factors. The scientists also found that patients with schizophrenia are also more prone to bipolar disorder, and that relatives of patients with one of the diseases are more likely to have relatives with the other.
According to the researchers, the results, taken as a whole, provide convincing proof that schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are very much hereditary diseases, and that they share, in part, a common genetic cause. They also argue that it is important for clinicians and researchers to take this common genetic background into account when studying and treating schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
The study was funded by the Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research and the Swedish Research Council.
Publication:
"Common genetic determinants of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in Swedish families: a population-based study"
Paul Lichtenstein, Benjamin H Yip, Camilla Björk, Yudi Pawitan, Tyrone D Cannon, Patrick F Sullivan, Christina M Hultman
The Lancet, 16 January 2009
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Karolinska Institutet is one of the leading medical universities in Europe. Through research, education and information, Karolinska Institutet contributes to improving human health. Each year, the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet awards the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
Karolinska Institutet
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Mental Health
posted by Dan on 25 Jan 2009 at 10:13 amBipolar Disorder (manic-depressive illness), if a disorder at all, has been defined as a major affective mood disorder in which one alternates between the mental states of deep and brutal depression and inflated elation- with the depressive episodes occurring more frequently. The disorder affects one’s cognition, emotions, perceptions, and behavior- along with psychosomatic presentations (such as pain with depressive episodes, for example). It is thought to be due to a physiological dysfunctional brain in one affected with bipolar disorder, yet the etiology remains entirely unknown. It is also believed that bipolar disorder presents itself when the affected one is between the ages of 15 and 25 years old. The disorder was entered in the psychiatrists’ bible, the DSM, in 1980. Also, bipolar disorder is thought to be correlated with creativity and accelerated growth of neurons if one is affected by it.
Research has determined that as many as 15 to over 30 percent of bipolar disorder patients commit suicide if they are untreated. Also, as many as half of those affected with bipolar disorder also have at times severe substance abuse issues along with this disorder as well. Bipolar patients are also often experiencing anxiety issues that vary, and are treated often as such. The disorder varies as far as severity goes- with some bipolar disorder patients being more affected than others. In fact, there are at least 6 classifications of bipolar disorder, according to the DSM. Bipolar patients are thought to be symptomatic half of their lives- with depressive episodes occurring more frequently than manic ones. When symptomatic, bipolar patients are thought to be rather disabled, according to some. As many as half of those suspected as having a bipolar disorder are thought to have at least one parent with some sort of mood disorder, which suggests a genetic predisposition to the disorder.
The diagnosis has become more frequent recently. In one decade, the assigned diagnosis of bipolar disorder rose from being about 25 per 100 thousand people to being 1000 per 100,000 people. Most diagnosed with bipolar disorder are not diagnosed based on solid, comprehensive, or psychiatric review that is often absent of valid or standard diagnostic methods. Some believe as many as 5 percent of the human population may be affected by bipolar disorder- which includes as many as 12 million people in the United States. A subjective questionnaire called the Mental Status Examination is often utilized when diagnosing one suspected has having bipolar disorder. Many believe the diagnosis has increased recently due to the progressive treatment options now available. It is an argument of increased awareness versus over-diagnosis.
Yet the diagnosis is vague, as children and adolescents are often absent in research with bipolar disorder. Many younger than 18 years of age are prescribed atypical anti-psychotics as first line treatment, which is largely not recommended as treatment options. In fact, close to half a million of those younger than 18 years of age are prescribed the atypical anti-psychotic Risperdal alone, it has been determined. The class of medications overall is thought to be prescribed to about 10 percent of those non-adults thought to have bipolar disorder.
While not recommended, one half of all those assessed as being bipolar are prescribed antidepressants, such as SSRIs, as first line treatment. It has been suggested that this class of drugs has decreased the risk of suicide attempts compared with other classes of antidepressants for close to 20 years. Yet tricyclic antidepressants have been determined to be efficacious in over half of those diagnosed with bipolar disorder- with a greater amount of research behind this class of drugs. Yet, entirely recognized treatments for bipolar disorder long term are lithium or lamictal- along with an anti-convulsant. Sugar intake is thought to vex the symptoms of one with a bipolar disorder as well.
Atypical anti-psychotics have been prescribed for bipolar disorder, which change some aspects of the brain, physiologically, as does the disease itself. In fact, one may argue the brain becomes more efficient due to both the disorder and the treatment with the atypical anti-psychotics. Yet many recommend the utilization of this class of drugs with bipolar disorder only if psychosis is present as well. As many as 15 percent of bipolar disorder patients diagnosed as such are prescribed an atypical presently. This class of medications may be particularly beneficial for those women who are diagnosed with bipolar disorder who are pregnant, however.
Lithium, which is essentially a very light metal with low density in which the salts are obtained for medicinal treatment, and an anti-convulsant are believed to be standard bipolar treatment, pharmacologically, studies have shown. This is due to Dr. John Cade and his examination with lithium and its benefits with those who have psychotic excitement close to 60 years ago. Lithium is believed to be both neuro-protective as well as having an anti-suicidal affect in those believed to be bipolar- and is viewed as a mainstay as far as treatment for bipolar goes with many who treat the disorder. Lithium is thought to regulate the calcium molecule in the brain, so this and valporate are historically the medicinal treatment options preferred for those with bipolar disorder.
Bipolar is difficult to detect, and is often diagnosed as major depression with many affected by this disorder. There is no objective criteria protocol available to utilize when assessing any patient believed to be suffering from any mental disorder. So such mental disorders that are diagnosed are ambiguous, yet that does not conclude that such disorders do not exist, such as the case with bipolar disorder.
Yet perhaps a health care provider should be very thorough and knowledgeable when assessing a patient believed to have a mental condition such as bipolar disorder,
Dan Abshear
Scizophrenia and Bipolar Affective disorder
posted by Omotayo Onabamiro on 7 Sep 2010 at 11:51 amBoth Schizophrenia and Bipolar affective disorder or either of them have the solution to their problems in Chromosome 21. I suffer from one of these two illnesses, and doctors here have not come out openly to tell me which particular one. However through divine revelation, I was made to realize either of these illnesses have something to do with Down's syndrome, or eyes that appear slit. I believe if both, or either of these illnesses is checked in relation to chromosome 21, where the problem caused by Down's syndrome seems to be situated, a quick cure to these illnesses would be found.
Psychological Problems
posted by Bret Zeller on 15 Jan 2011 at 2:54 amI'm afraid that I suspect you are either trolling or are in need of psychological help. What do you mean that these things were "Divined" to you? And why would your doctors conspire to keep you in the dark.
I seriously recommend that you let them know your feelings about this, because if you are not joking, then I would guess that your (most likely)Schizophrenia is flaring up.
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