SNP Shot: Genomic Insights

Schizophrenia is a psychosis, a brain disorder that disrupts a person's thoughts, self-perception, and sensory experiences. It generally manifests in late teens or early twenties.

Hallucinations, which are false perceptions, are a key symptom of schizophrenia. Hearing voices (auditory hallucinations) is the most prevalent type, but individuals may also experience visual, olfactory (smell), or tactile hallucinations. Delusions, or firmly held false beliefs, are another defining feature. For instance, someone might believe they are a famous historical figure or are the target of a conspiracy.

Schizophrenia often impairs a person's ability to function effectively in academic, professional, and social environments. Other potential symptoms include disorganized thinking, difficulty concentrating, inappropriate emotional displays, unusual speech and behavior, and problems with personal care and daily routines. Some individuals may display a lack of facial expression (flat affect) and, in severe cases, become unresponsive (catatonic). Substance abuse and suicidal ideation and attempts are also frequently observed in people with schizophrenia.

Movement issues like tremors, facial tics, stiffness, slowed movement (bradykinesia), or an inability to move (akinesia) are common. These are usually side effects of antipsychotic medications used to manage the condition, although some individuals may exhibit these movement abnormalities before starting medication.

While some individuals with schizophrenia experience mild intellectual impairment, the condition does not cause the same type of physical brain changes seen in dementias like Alzheimer's disease.

Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders are distinct from mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder, which primarily affect emotions. However, these conditions can co-occur. Schizoaffective disorder is diagnosed when a person displays significant symptoms of both schizophrenia and a mood disorder.

Inheritance:

The precise inheritance pattern of schizophrenia is typically unclear. While family members of affected individuals have a slightly elevated risk of developing schizophrenia compared to the general population, the majority of people with a close relative who has the disorder will not develop it themselves.