Schizophrenia Expert Jerry Kennard shares Schizophrenia management news and commentary at SchizophreniaConnection.com. The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.HealthCentral.com) is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/674 http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/674/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/674 http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/674/34839/inside-brain Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:23:36 -0400 Jerry Kennard   One of the key strategies in the search for some biological basis for schizophrenia is to locate abnormalities in the structure of the brain. Comparing the size, volume, cell count and function of the brain can be undertaken during autopsy but, most significantly perhaps, the use of scanning techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows investigation of the living brain. What have these investigations revealed? In this... http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/674/34839/inside-brain http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/674/34030/schizophrenia Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:55:00 -0400 Jerry Kennard Scientists have recently reported that faulty cleavage of a protein called neuregulin, or Nrg-1, forms the basis for the development of schizophrenia. The Nrg-1 protein is essential for the normal development of the nervous system and therefore the functioning of the brain. Any disturbance will lead to a disturbance in brain function.   If the Nrg-1 protein is to carry out its function properly it must first be cut in the correct way.... http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/674/34030/schizophrenia http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/674/32512/psychotic Tue, 01 Jul 2008 06:41:23 -0400 Jerry Kennard The great variety of symptoms in schizophrenia has always made the prediction of a psychotic episode problematic. Scientists from the University of Cambridge have recently announced a method of anticipating the way people might behave during a psychotic episode. The answer lies in tracing the normal brain activity of the individual and then comparing the results of this with brain activity following the administration of Ketamine.   Paul... http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/674/32512/psychotic http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/674/31949/hallucinations Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:28:00 -0400 Jerry Kennard Hallucinations can involve any one of the five senses, either individually or in combination. The more we understand about how hallucinations are formulated, the greater our chances are of finding more effective ways of treating them.   Over the past decade or so there has been something of a resurgence of interest in hallucinations and some of the other thought processes associated with schizophrenia. Developments in software technology,... http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/674/31949/hallucinations http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/674/31715/explaining Mon, 23 Jun 2008 07:08:00 -0400 Jerry Kennard What do we think about the person who believes their destiny is ruled by the stars, or is mapped on the lines across their palm, or revealed in the tea leaves at the bottom of a cup? Are they any less delusional than the person who believes God wants them, and only them, to undertake some special task? What are the measurable differences? Could they all be signs of insanity or just some harmless beliefs?   From a psychological... http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/674/31715/explaining http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/674/30337/time-treatment Mon, 09 Jun 2008 08:25:09 -0400 Jerry Kennard Although the lifetime incidence of schizophrenia is roughly similar in men and women it remains the case that men seem to have a worse general outlook than women. More men than women are diagnosed with schizophrenia between the ages of 15 to 25 and they tend to show higher levels of social withdrawal, self-neglect and substance misuse. Men with schizophrenia also rate their life satisfaction lower than women.   Women tend to... http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/674/30337/time-treatment http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/674/29739/delusional Tue, 03 Jun 2008 06:41:59 -0400 Jerry Kennard   Delusional disorder is sometimes confused with schizophrenia as both share delusions as a characteristic. What distinguishes delusional disorder is the presence of plausible delusions, as opposed to the more bizarre delusions that may accompany schizophrenia. Delusions are generally thought of as fixed false beliefs. The ‘fixed' element refers to the fact that even in the face of evidence to the contrary, the delusion remains. In... http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/674/29739/delusional http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/674/27923/schizophrenia Thu, 15 May 2008 06:55:00 -0400 Jerry Kennard One of the most notable features of schizophrenia is lack of motivation. To date there has been little information available to determine why. In part, motivational problems are commonly viewed as secondary to long-term treatment effects, or the product of institutionalisation.   Recent research involving the use of a simple reaction time experiment, suggests that variations in the dopamine function of the brain holds the key to both an... http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/674/27923/schizophrenia http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/674/26998/schizophrenic Mon, 05 May 2008 11:41:00 -0400 Jerry Kennard   Schizophrenic mothers and fathers are twice as likely to have a child diagnosed with autism. These are the findings from a study recently published in the journal Pediatrics. Study author Julie Daniels, Ph.D., an assistant professor at the University of North Carolina, pointed to, "a mental illness trend in families."   It has been known for some time that families with a history of psychosis have a much increased likelihood... http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/674/26998/schizophrenic http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/674/23791/higher Tue, 01 Apr 2008 11:10:00 -0400 Jerry Kennard Hardly a week goes by that doesn’t involve yet another genetic discovery that could help solve the puzzle of schizophrenia and in so doing offer the chance for a cure or more effective treatments. There’s nothing wrong with this and I guess some news is better than no news, but I do wonder what it must feel like to be a person with schizophrenia, waiting for the day when all of this will amount to something.   Every so often... http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/674/23791/higher