PSYCH 212 Lecture Notes - Lecture 90: Umbilical Cord, Catechol, Catechol-O-Methyl Transferase
Document Summary
Recently, researchers has been attempting to determine which specific genes are responsible for schizophrenia. Thus far, they have only found a few genes that make a small but significant impact. Gene responsible for an enzyme involved in breaking down dopamine, catechol o-methyltransferase (comt) One form of this gene puts a person at a small increased risk for schizophrenia. Problems with pregnancy and birth are associated with later development of schizophrenia. 1) severe maternal malnutrition early in pregnancy; 2) disease/infections in the mother prior to birth. Birth records show mothers of later schizophrenia patients experienced more complications in labor and delivery such as: May reduce availability of oxygen to newborn"s brain. Schizophrenia affects many different regions of the brain, but generally with the disorder: Have lower total volume of brain tissue overall. Have enlarged ventricles (fluid-filled cavities in brain) Decreased size of limbic system, a set of brain areas responsible for regulation of emotion and integration of thought and feeling.
