Title:Role of Neurochemicals in Schizophrenia
Volume: 9
Author(s): Sher Singh, Deepa Khanna*Sanjeev Kalra
Affiliation:
- Rajendra Institute of Technology and Sciences, Sirsa-125055, Haryana,India
Keywords:
Acetylcholine, dopamine, GABA, neuro-inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunctioning,
oxidative stress, pathophysiology, schizophrenia.
Abstract:
Background: Schizophrenia is a complex, unpredictable and severe psychiatric
disorder, which affects several domains of cognition, behavior and characterized by
positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms. Etiology of schizophrenia represents the
involvement of environmental factors, role of genes, social stressors, like discrimination or
economic hardship, relationships, childhood difficulty, use of cannabis in adolescence,
maternal stress, nutritional deficiencies, maternal infections, intrauterine growth retardation,
and complications of pregnancy, while pathophysiology represents dysfunctional
neurotransmission of dopamine, stress-associated signaling cascades (gabanergic,
glutamatergic, cholinergic, serotonin, and adrenergic singling cascades) and enzymatic
changes (acetylcholinesterase, catechol-o-methyl-transferase, monoamine oxidase, and
phosphodiesterase).
Objective: The objective of the current review is to determine the role of pathophysiological
hypothesis impairments leading to positive, negative and cognitive symptoms of
schizophrenia.
Methods: Various pathophysiological hypotheses of schizophrenia were identified through
searching relevant databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science up to the
year 2019, using the keywords schizophrenia, role of dopamine, acetylcholine, oxidative
stress, and inflammation in schizophrenia.
Results: Alterations in the neurotransmission of dopamine, stress-associated signaling cascades
(Gabanergic, glutamatergic, cholinergic, serotonin, and adrenergic singling cascades)
and enzymatic changes (acetylcholinesterase, catechol-o-methyl-transferase, monoamine
oxidase, and phosphodiesterase) were compiled in this review for easy learning of Schizophrenia.
Conclusion: Schizophrenia is a major illness defined by delusions, hallucinations,
disorganized behavior, and cognitive difficulties such as memory loss. This review aims to
provide a brief overview of neurotransmitter role as well as other pathophysiological
alterations in schizophrenia. A focus on more predictive animal models and specific
biomarkers for positive, negative and cognitive symptoms will help to identify and develop
novel therapeutic agents with fewer side effects.