Conway Niu 08301016018 Medical Genetics Summary paper: Schizophrenia This presentation explores the relationship between the psychiatric disorder schizophrenia and the effects that it may have on genetics, or the genetic basis behind the disorder The presentation begins with a br ief overview of the disease itself and later goes onto presenting research supporting the genetic factors behind schizophrenia Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder that alters the sufferer s sense of reality, with the most recognizable symptom being auditory and/or visual hallucinations These hallucinations in most cases, have a devastating effect on the daily lives of schizophrenia patients. In addition to hallucination, other symptoms of schizophrenia can be classified into positive or negative symptoms; positive symptoms are those that are present in addition to those present in non-schizophrenia persons, while negative symptoms are those that are absent when compared to healthy individuals. positive symptoms include auditory and visual hallucinations, paranoid delusions, and disorganized speech, while negative symptoms include flat affect, alogia, anhedonia, asociality, incoherent speech(such as word salad), and avolition. In order for these symptoms to be included with a diagnosis with the dSM-IV, certain criteria must be met: at least two of the symptoms must be present for one month in a period of six months of dysfunctio n along with social or occupational dysfunction (or dysfunction in caring for onself). If symptoms are present, but for a shorter duration, the diagnosis would be termed as a schizophreniform disorde There are defined subtypes of schizophrenia, further categorizing the disorder. Some nclude: Paranoid type schizophrenia patients suffer only from delusions and hallucinations Disorganized type schizophrenia presents with thought disorder and flat affect simultaneously Catatonic type either leaves the patient immobile(negative symptom) or causes them to haveConway Niu 08301016018 Medical Genetics Summary paper: Schizophrenia This presentation explores the relationship between the psychiatric disorder schizophrenia and the effects that it may have on genetics, or the genetic basis behind the disorder. The presentation begins with a brief overview of the disease itself and later goes onto presenting research supporting the genetic factors behind schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder that alters the sufferer’s sense of reality, with the most recognizable symptom being auditory and/or visual hallucinations. These hallucinations, in most cases, have a devastating effect on the daily lives of schizophrenia patients. In addition to hallucination, other symptoms of schizophrenia can be classified into positive or negative symptoms; positive symptoms are those that are present in addition to those present in non-schizophrenia persons, while negative symptoms are those that are absent when compared to healthy individuals. Positive symptoms include auditory and visual hallucinations, paranoid delusions, and disorganized speech, while negative symptoms include flat affect, alogia, anhedonia, asociality, incoherent speech (such as word salad), and avolition. In order for these symptoms to be included with a diagnosis with the DSM-IV, certain criteria must be met: at least two of the symptoms must be present for one month in a period of six months of dysfunctio n, along with social or occupational dysfunction (or dysfunction in caring for onself). If symptoms are present, but for a shorter duration, the diagnosis would be termed as a schizophreniform disorder. There are defined subtypes of schizophrenia, further categorizing the disorder. Some include: Paranoid type schizophrenia patients suffer only from delusions and hallucinations. Disorganized type schizophrenia presents with thought disorder and flat affect simultaneously. Catatonic type either leaves the patient immobile (negative symptom) or causes them to have