Schizophrenia: One Name, Many Different Manifestations

Abstract

Schizophrenia is a disabling condition impacting approximately 1% of the worldwide population. Symptoms include positive symptoms (eg, hallucinations, delusions), negative symptoms (eg, avolition, anhedonia), and cognitive impairment. There are likely many different environmental and pathophysiologic etiologies involving distinct neurotransmitters and neurocircuits. Pharmacologic treatment at present consists of dopamine receptor antagonists, which are reasonably effective at treating positive symptoms, but less effective at treating cognitive and negative symptoms. Nondopaminergic medications targeting alternative receptors are under investigation. Supportive psychosocial treatments can work in tandem with antipsychotic medications and optimize patient care.

Keywords: Antipsychotics; Dopamine; First episode psychosis; Neuropathophysiology; Psychopharmacology; Psychosis; Schizophrenia.