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Schizophrenia And Its Effects On An American Family: A Call To Action For The 21st Century, Cynthia Newton Captain May 2017

Schizophrenia And Its Effects On An American Family: A Call To Action For The 21st Century, Cynthia Newton Captain

Senior Theses

Our country’s healthcare system is at a moral crossroads. The way we treat those whom we call “the homeless” is deplorable. The majority of the homeless are mentally ill and need treatment. Our country needs to treat those with the severe brain diseases of schizophrenia, schizo-affective disorder, and bi-polar disorder just as we would Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Those with severe mental illness, who have no insight into their illness, should not be allowed to dictate their own treatment. If a homeless person is brought to San Francisco General Hospital and is found to be a schizophrenic in psychiatric …


The Saint Of Worcester: Why Pilgrims Visit Audrey Santo, Mathew Schmalz Aug 2015

The Saint Of Worcester: Why Pilgrims Visit Audrey Santo, Mathew Schmalz

Mathew Schmalz

No abstract provided.


The Phenomenology Of Intersubjectivity In Jaspers And Husserl: On The Capacities And Limits Of Empathy And Communication In Psychiatric Praxis, Sebastian Luft, J. Schlimme Mar 2015

The Phenomenology Of Intersubjectivity In Jaspers And Husserl: On The Capacities And Limits Of Empathy And Communication In Psychiatric Praxis, Sebastian Luft, J. Schlimme

Sebastian Luft

In this article, we present two accounts of intersubjectivity in Jaspers and Husserl, respectively. We argue that both can be brought together for a more satisfying account of empathy and communication in the context of psychiatric praxis. But while we restrict ourselves for the most part to this praxis, we also indicate the larger agenda that drives Jaspers and Husserl, despite all disagreement. Here we spell out, in particular, how a phenomenologically inspired account of empathy and intersubjectivity can have larger ramifications for a theory of social life and interaction. Finally, we argue for a ‘relaxed' view concerning the relation …


The Hospital Always Wins: Review 2, Michelle Boyd Mar 2014

The Hospital Always Wins: Review 2, Michelle Boyd

RadioDoc Review

This documentary raises crucial questions about our definitions of mental health and healing as well as the meaning of forgiveness. It also illustrates how an individual’s ability to extract themselves from the grip of institutional power is highly dependent on luck and money and privilege. Perhaps most importantly, this piece gives voice, in a complex, respectful manner, to Ibrahim and other schizophrenics whose struggles remain buried and ignored. One element that is missing from this story is an account of how race complicates this unequal power dynamic. Ibrahim is black… Hospital’s impact might have been even wider had …


The Hospital Always Wins: Review 1, Sharon Davis Mar 2014

The Hospital Always Wins: Review 1, Sharon Davis

RadioDoc Review

This documentary gives a graphic and challenging insight into the thinking of a schizophrenic mind. But whose story is it, producer Laura Starecheski’s or mental inpatient Issa Ibrahim’s? The process of recording a documentary over such a long period of time (ten years) is tough and always difficult to negotiate. What starts out as a journalistic exercise becomes something very different as your relationship develops over time with the people you are recording. Here, it’s the narrator who drives the story on, weaving in and out of the interviews and actuality, and it’s the strength of the writing that compels …


The Dopamine B-Hydroxylase 19 Bp Insertion/Deletion Polymorphism Was Associated With First-Episode But Not Medicated Chronic Schizophrenia, Li Hui, Xuan Zhang, Xu-Feng Huang, Mei Han, Francesca Fernandez, Yaqin Yu, Shilong Sun, Wenjun Li, Da Chen, Mei Xiu, Thomas Kosten, Xiang Zhang Apr 2013

The Dopamine B-Hydroxylase 19 Bp Insertion/Deletion Polymorphism Was Associated With First-Episode But Not Medicated Chronic Schizophrenia, Li Hui, Xuan Zhang, Xu-Feng Huang, Mei Han, Francesca Fernandez, Yaqin Yu, Shilong Sun, Wenjun Li, Da Chen, Mei Xiu, Thomas Kosten, Xiang Zhang

Xu-Feng Huang

Background: Numerous studies report dysfunctional dopaminergic and noradrenergic neurotransmission in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) is an intracellular enzyme catalyzing the conversion of dopamine to noradrenaline. Functional polymorphisms have been reported in the promoter region of DBH gene, including a 19 bp insertion/deletion polymorphism. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there was an association between the functional polymorphism (DBH50-Ins/Del) and schizophrenia in a Han Chinese population. Methods: This polymorphism was genotyped in 221 first-episode schizophrenics, 360 chronic schizophrenics and 318 healthy controls using a case-control design. We assessed their psychopathology using the Positive and Negative …


Group Cohesion And Homework Adherence In Multi-Family Group Therapy For Schizophrenia, Frank P. Deane, Joanne Mercer, Anahita Talyarkhan, Gordon Lambert, Judy Pickard Oct 2012

Group Cohesion And Homework Adherence In Multi-Family Group Therapy For Schizophrenia, Frank P. Deane, Joanne Mercer, Anahita Talyarkhan, Gordon Lambert, Judy Pickard

Frank Deane

This study examined the relationship between levels of group cohesion, defined as whole group relationships, and between-session therapeutic homework adherence in a multi-family group therapy (MFGT) for people with schizophrenia. Participants from 18 consenting families attending MFGT groups completed weekly homework adherence ratings, group cohesion and spontaneous between-session activity measures. Levels of group cohesion at each session were compared with measures of scheduled and spontaneous homework adherence reported at the next session. It was hypothesised that higher levels of group cohesion would be related to homework adherence and other spontaneous between-session therapeutic activity completed by group members. Results show higher …


Decreased Density Of Serotonin 2a Receptors In The Superior Temporal Gyrus In Schizophrenia - A Postmortem Study, Xu-Feng Huang, Chao Deng, Qing Wang, Kai Kang Sep 2012

Decreased Density Of Serotonin 2a Receptors In The Superior Temporal Gyrus In Schizophrenia - A Postmortem Study, Xu-Feng Huang, Chao Deng, Qing Wang, Kai Kang

Xu-Feng Huang

The superior temporal gyrus (STG) is strongly implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia,particularly with regards to auditory hallucinations. In this study, using in situ quantitative autoradiography in postmortem tissue, we investigated the binding of the [3H]ketanserin to 5-HT2A receptors and [3H] mesulergine to 5-HT2C receptors in the left STG of 8 male schizophrenic patients compared to 8 control subjects. A strong [3H]ketanserin binding was observed in the STG, however there was a very weak [3H] mesulergine binding in the STG. A significant decrease in binding of [3H]ketanserin was clearly observed in schizophrenia patients in comparison with control subjects. There were …


The Schizophrenia Susceptibility Gene Neuregulin 1 Modulates Tolerance To The Effects Of Canabinoids, Aurelie Boucher, Glenn E. Hunt, Jacques Micheau, Xu-Feng Huang, Iain Mcgregor, Tim Karl, Jonathon Arnold Sep 2012

The Schizophrenia Susceptibility Gene Neuregulin 1 Modulates Tolerance To The Effects Of Canabinoids, Aurelie Boucher, Glenn E. Hunt, Jacques Micheau, Xu-Feng Huang, Iain Mcgregor, Tim Karl, Jonathon Arnold

Xu-Feng Huang

Cannabis increases the risk of schizophrenia in genetically vulnerable individuals. In this study we aim to show that the schizophrenia susceptibility gene neuregulin 1 (Nrg1) modulates the development of tolerance to cannabinoids in mice. Nrg1 heterozygous (HET) and wild-type (WT) mice were treated daily for 15 d with the synthetic analogue of D9-tetrahydrocannabinol, CP55,940 (0.4 mg/kg). We measured the impact of this exposure on locomotor activity, anxiety, prepulse inhibition (PPI), body temperature and FosB/DFosB immunohistochemistry. Tolerance to CP55,940-induced hypothermia and locomotor suppression developed more rapidly in Nrg1 HET mice than WT mice. Conversely in the light-dark test, while tolerance to …


Increased Cannabinoid Receptor Density In The Posterior Cingulate Cortex In Schizophrenia, Kelly Newell, Xu-Feng Huang, Chao Deng Sep 2012

Increased Cannabinoid Receptor Density In The Posterior Cingulate Cortex In Schizophrenia, Kelly Newell, Xu-Feng Huang, Chao Deng

Xu-Feng Huang

No abstract provided.


Membrane Phospholipid Composition, Alterations In Neurotransmitter Systems And Schizophrenia, Xu-Feng Huang, Chao Deng, Teresa Du Bois Sep 2012

Membrane Phospholipid Composition, Alterations In Neurotransmitter Systems And Schizophrenia, Xu-Feng Huang, Chao Deng, Teresa Du Bois

Xu-Feng Huang

No abstract provided.


No Changes In Densities Of Cannabinoid Receptors In The Superior Temporal Gyrus In Schizophrenia, Xu-Feng Huang, Chao Deng, Mei Han Sep 2012

No Changes In Densities Of Cannabinoid Receptors In The Superior Temporal Gyrus In Schizophrenia, Xu-Feng Huang, Chao Deng, Mei Han

Xu-Feng Huang

Objective: In recent years, abnormal changes in the endocannabinoid system have been found in schizophrenia. The superior temporal gyrus (STG) is strongly implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, particularly with regards to auditory hallucinations. In this study, we investigated the binding density of cannabinoid CB1 receptors in the STG of schizophrenia patients compared to control subjects. Methods: Quantitative autoradiography was used to investigate the binding densities of [3H] SR141716A (a selective antagonist) and [3H]CP-55940 (an agonist) to the CB1 receptors in the STG. Post-mortem brain tissue was obtained from the NSW Tissue Resource Centre (Australia). Results: Contrasting to previous findings …


Increased Density Of Gabaa Receptors In The Superior Temporal Gyrus In Schizophrenia, Xu-Feng Huang, Chao Deng Sep 2012

Increased Density Of Gabaa Receptors In The Superior Temporal Gyrus In Schizophrenia, Xu-Feng Huang, Chao Deng

Xu-Feng Huang

No abstract provided.


Decreased Density Of Muscarinic Receptors In The Superior Temporal Gyrus In Schizophrenia, Xu-Feng Huang, Chao Deng Sep 2012

Decreased Density Of Muscarinic Receptors In The Superior Temporal Gyrus In Schizophrenia, Xu-Feng Huang, Chao Deng

Xu-Feng Huang

No abstract provided.


M2/M4 Muscarinic Receptor Binding In The Anterior Cingulate Cortex In Schizophrenia And Mood Disorders, Xu-Feng Huang, Katerina Zavitsanou, Andrew Katsifis, Yinghua Yu Sep 2012

M2/M4 Muscarinic Receptor Binding In The Anterior Cingulate Cortex In Schizophrenia And Mood Disorders, Xu-Feng Huang, Katerina Zavitsanou, Andrew Katsifis, Yinghua Yu

Xu-Feng Huang

No abstract provided.


Ionotropic Glutamate Receptor Binding In The Posterior Cingulate Cortex In Schizophrenia Patients, Kelly Newell, Xu-Feng Huang, Katerina Zavitsanou Sep 2012

Ionotropic Glutamate Receptor Binding In The Posterior Cingulate Cortex In Schizophrenia Patients, Kelly Newell, Xu-Feng Huang, Katerina Zavitsanou

Xu-Feng Huang

No abstract provided.


Rapid Cortico-Limbic Alterations In Ampa Receptor Densities After Administration Of Pcp: Implications For Schizophrenia., Van Nguyen, Kelly Newell, Xu-Feng Huang, Katerina Zavitsanou, P Ballantyne Sep 2012

Rapid Cortico-Limbic Alterations In Ampa Receptor Densities After Administration Of Pcp: Implications For Schizophrenia., Van Nguyen, Kelly Newell, Xu-Feng Huang, Katerina Zavitsanou, P Ballantyne

Xu-Feng Huang

Phencyclidine (PCP), a non-competitive NMDA/glutamate receptor antagonist, is a psychotomimetic drug that produces a syndrome in normal humans that resembles schizophrenia. The present study investigated the mechanisms of PCP actions by examining the density of glutamate and muscarinic receptors in the rat brain 4 h after a single injection of PCP. We used receptor autoradiography and [3H]MK801, [3H]AMPA, [3H]pirenzepine and [3H]AFDX384 to target glutamate NMDA, glutamate AMPA and muscarinic M1 and M2 receptors, respectively. The major outcome from the present study was an overall decrease in levels of the glutamate AMPA receptor density (F = 14.5, d.f. = 1, p …


Alterations Of Muscarinic And Gaba Receptor Binding In The Posterior Cingulate Cortex In Schizophrenia, Kelly Newell, Xu-Feng Huang, Katerina Zavitsanou, Stephen Kum Jew Sep 2012

Alterations Of Muscarinic And Gaba Receptor Binding In The Posterior Cingulate Cortex In Schizophrenia, Kelly Newell, Xu-Feng Huang, Katerina Zavitsanou, Stephen Kum Jew

Xu-Feng Huang

No abstract provided.


Immune Factors In The Neuregulin-1 Knockout Mouse Model Of Schizophrenia, P Snikeris, Xu-Feng Huang, Elisabeth T. Frank Sep 2012

Immune Factors In The Neuregulin-1 Knockout Mouse Model Of Schizophrenia, P Snikeris, Xu-Feng Huang, Elisabeth T. Frank

Xu-Feng Huang

No abstract provided.


Changing Staff Attitudes And Empathy For Working With People With Psychosis, H. J. Mcleod, F. P. Deane, B. Hogbin Aug 2012

Changing Staff Attitudes And Empathy For Working With People With Psychosis, H. J. Mcleod, F. P. Deane, B. Hogbin

Frank Deane

Seventy-seven mental health professionals completed a 3-day cognitive behavioural training course for managing hallucinations and delusions in schizophrenia. A questionnaire measuring attitudes and empathy towards working with people who have these symptoms was administered before and after the course. Significant increases in feelings of adequacy, legitimacy, employment related self-esteem, and expectations of work satisfaction were observed after the course and participants displayed high levels of motivation for working with this clinical population at both time points. In addition, the participants showed significant increases in perceived empathy for the experience of hallucinations and delusions. This was a predicted outcome as the …


A Systematic Review Of Interventions To Increase Mental Health Service Use, Jennifer Greene Mar 2012

A Systematic Review Of Interventions To Increase Mental Health Service Use, Jennifer Greene

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Relatively few pre-treatment interventions to increase out-patient mental health (MH) service use have been created and experimentally tested. Therefore, not only is there limited availability of these interventions, it is uncertain whether existing interventions are effective. Moreover, it is unclear which components of the interventions are effective. To address these gaps in knowledge, a systematic review of pre-treatment interventions was conducted, using the Cochrane Review methodology. Three primary outcomes were evaluated: attendance at any type of out-patient MH visit; number of appointments of any type of out-patient MH visit; and/or initiation and adherence to psychotropic medication. PubMed and PsycINFO databases …


Group Cohesion And Homework Adherence In Multi-Family Group Therapy For Schizophrenia, Frank P. Deane, Joanne Mercer, Anahita Talyarkhan, Gordon Lambert, Judy Pickard Jan 2012

Group Cohesion And Homework Adherence In Multi-Family Group Therapy For Schizophrenia, Frank P. Deane, Joanne Mercer, Anahita Talyarkhan, Gordon Lambert, Judy Pickard

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This study examined the relationship between levels of group cohesion, defined as whole group relationships, and between-session therapeutic homework adherence in a multi-family group therapy (MFGT) for people with schizophrenia. Participants from 18 consenting families attending MFGT groups completed weekly homework adherence ratings, group cohesion and spontaneous between-session activity measures. Levels of group cohesion at each session were compared with measures of scheduled and spontaneous homework adherence reported at the next session. It was hypothesised that higher levels of group cohesion would be related to homework adherence and other spontaneous between-session therapeutic activity completed by group members. Results show higher …


The Impact Of Cannabis Use On Cognitive Functioning In Patients With Schizophrenia: A Meta-Analysis Of Existing Findings And New Data In A First-Episode Sample, Murat Yücel, Emre Bora, Daniel I. Lubman, Nadia Solowij, Warrick J. Brewer, Sue M. Cotton, Phillipe Conus, Michael J. Takagi, Alex Fornito, Stephen J. Wood, Patrick D. Mcgorry, Christos Pantelis Jan 2012

The Impact Of Cannabis Use On Cognitive Functioning In Patients With Schizophrenia: A Meta-Analysis Of Existing Findings And New Data In A First-Episode Sample, Murat Yücel, Emre Bora, Daniel I. Lubman, Nadia Solowij, Warrick J. Brewer, Sue M. Cotton, Phillipe Conus, Michael J. Takagi, Alex Fornito, Stephen J. Wood, Patrick D. Mcgorry, Christos Pantelis

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Cannabis use is highly prevalent among people with schizophrenia, and coupled with impaired cognition, is thought to heighten the risk of illness onset. However, while heavy cannabis use has been associated with cognitive deficits in long-term users, studies among patients with schizophrenia have been contradictory. This article consists of 2 studies. In Study I, a meta-analysis of 10 studies comprising 572 patients with established schizophrenia (with and without comorbid cannabis use) was conducted. Patients with a history of cannabis use were found to have superior neuropsychological functioning. This finding was largely driven by studies that included patients with a lifetime …


The Schizophrenia Susceptibility Gene Neuregulin 1 Modulates Tolerance To The Effects Of Canabinoids, Aurelie Boucher, Glenn E. Hunt, Jacques Micheau, Xu-Feng Huang, Iain Mcgregor, Tim Karl, Jonathon Arnold Jan 2011

The Schizophrenia Susceptibility Gene Neuregulin 1 Modulates Tolerance To The Effects Of Canabinoids, Aurelie Boucher, Glenn E. Hunt, Jacques Micheau, Xu-Feng Huang, Iain Mcgregor, Tim Karl, Jonathon Arnold

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Cannabis increases the risk of schizophrenia in genetically vulnerable individuals. In this study we aim to show that the schizophrenia susceptibility gene neuregulin 1 (Nrg1) modulates the development of tolerance to cannabinoids in mice. Nrg1 heterozygous (HET) and wild-type (WT) mice were treated daily for 15 d with the synthetic analogue of D9-tetrahydrocannabinol, CP55,940 (0.4 mg/kg). We measured the impact of this exposure on locomotor activity, anxiety, prepulse inhibition (PPI), body temperature and FosB/DFosB immunohistochemistry. Tolerance to CP55,940-induced hypothermia and locomotor suppression developed more rapidly in Nrg1 HET mice than WT mice. Conversely in the light-dark test, while tolerance to …


Cerebellar White-Matter Changes In Cannabis Users With And Without Schizophrenia, N Solowij, M Yucel, C Respondek, S Whittle, E Lindsay, C Pantelis, D I. Lubman Jan 2011

Cerebellar White-Matter Changes In Cannabis Users With And Without Schizophrenia, N Solowij, M Yucel, C Respondek, S Whittle, E Lindsay, C Pantelis, D I. Lubman

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background. The cerebellum is rich in cannabinoid receptors and implicated in the neuropathology of schizophrenia. Long-term cannabis use is associated with functional and structural brain changes similar to those evident in schizophrenia, yet its impact on cerebellar structure has not been determined. We examined cerebellar grey and white matter in cannabis users with and without schizophrenia. Method. Seventeen patients with schizophrenia and 31 healthy controls were recruited ; 48% of the healthy group and 47% of the patients were long-term heavy cannabis users (mean 19.7 and 17.9 years near daily use respectively). Cerebellar measures were extracted from structural 3-T magnetic …


Quality Of Life Among People With Schizophrenia In Saudi Arabia, Amira Ali Alshowkan, Janette Curtis, Yvonne White Jan 2011

Quality Of Life Among People With Schizophrenia In Saudi Arabia, Amira Ali Alshowkan, Janette Curtis, Yvonne White

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Research aims: To provide a profile of the quality of life of people with schizophrenia in Saudi Arabia. To investigate the relationships between Socio-demographic characteristics and their quality of life.


The Quality Of Life Of People With Schizophrenia Living In The Community In Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia, Amira Ali Alshowkan, Janette Curtis, Yvonne White Jan 2011

The Quality Of Life Of People With Schizophrenia Living In The Community In Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia, Amira Ali Alshowkan, Janette Curtis, Yvonne White

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

No abstract provided.


Immune Factors In The Neuregulin-1 Knockout Mouse Model Of Schizophrenia, P Snikeris, Xu-Feng Huang, Elisabeth T. Frank Jan 2010

Immune Factors In The Neuregulin-1 Knockout Mouse Model Of Schizophrenia, P Snikeris, Xu-Feng Huang, Elisabeth T. Frank

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

No abstract provided.


Decreased Density Of Serotonin 2a Receptors In The Superior Temporal Gyrus In Schizophrenia - A Postmortem Study, Xu-Feng Huang, Chao Deng, Qing Wang, Kai Kang Jan 2009

Decreased Density Of Serotonin 2a Receptors In The Superior Temporal Gyrus In Schizophrenia - A Postmortem Study, Xu-Feng Huang, Chao Deng, Qing Wang, Kai Kang

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

The superior temporal gyrus (STG) is strongly implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia,particularly with regards to auditory hallucinations. In this study, using in situ quantitative autoradiography in postmortem tissue, we investigated the binding of the [3H]ketanserin to 5-HT2A receptors and [3H] mesulergine to 5-HT2C receptors in the left STG of 8 male schizophrenic patients compared to 8 control subjects. A strong [3H]ketanserin binding was observed in the STG, however there was a very weak [3H] mesulergine binding in the STG. A significant decrease in binding of [3H]ketanserin was clearly observed in schizophrenia patients in comparison with control subjects. There were …


Ethics And Schizophrenia, A. Rudnick, Charles Weijer Dec 2007

Ethics And Schizophrenia, A. Rudnick, Charles Weijer

Charles Weijer

No abstract provided.