Schizophrenia: Causes and Treatments

Zafar   U.   Khan; Elisa      Martin-Montañez; E.   Chris   Muly

doi:10.2174/1381612811319360006

Abstract

Schizophrenia is a major mental illness that is characterized by psychosis, apathy, social withdrawal and cognitive impairment. These abnormalities in patients results in impaired functioning in work, school, parenting, self-care, independent living, interpersonal relationships, and leisure. Although the search for the biological correlates of schizophrenia has met with limited success, new advances in genetics and pharmacology are promising. Here, we describe the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, strategies for treatment, and clinical impact of the currently available medications.

Keywords: Positive symptoms, negative symptoms, cognitive symptoms, brain circuits, dopamine, glutamate, genes, environmental factors, clinical criterias, imaging, typical antipsychotics, atypical antipsychotics.