Schizophrenia is one of the most serious and frightening of all mental illnesses. No other disorder arouses as much anxiety in the general public, the media, and doctors. People with schizophrenia typically hear voices (auditory hallucinations), which often criticise or abuse them. Many patients also have thought disorder and negative symptoms. While negative symptoms may be less troubling to the patient, they can be very distressing to relatives. Systematic reviews show that despite its relatively low incidence (15.2/100 000), the prevalence of schizophrenia (7.2/1000) is relatively high, because it often starts in early adult life and becomes chronic. Schizophrenia typically presents in early adulthood or late adolescence.
The expression of glutamic acid decarboxylase, the synthetic enzyme for the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, is reduced in the prefrontal cortex of patients with schizophrenia. The impact of this alternation in GABAergic functioning in the cortex of patients with schizophrenia is complex. Staining for GABA transporter is decreased in these cartridges while the GABAA receptor subunit α2 is increased in the postsynaptic axon initial segment. Correction of the abnormal dopamine system using D2 receptor blockers as antipsychotic drugs has been the only option for the treatment of schizophrenia, but in recent years , the attention is shifting toward developing drugs that target other receptors.

References

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