Сhromosomal abnormalities Essays

Ð ¡hromosomal abnormalities Essays Ð ¡hromosomal abnormalities Essay Ð ¡hromosomal abnormalities Essay The development of psychotic disorders has been linked to chromosomal abnormalities. Research conducted to establish whether there is a link between psychotic disorders and chromosomal abnormalities show that Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are associated with chromosomal disruptions (Muir et al, 2008). Studies that have been conducted on patients who have been diagnosed with psychotic disorders show that about 30 per cent of the patients have a micro deletion at chromosome 22q11. In addition, researchers associate gene G72/G30 at chromosome 13q33.2 with susceptibility gene for developing schizophrenia at childhood. The development of brief psychotic disorder has been linked to the genes, and this support the claim that psychotic disorders have a biological origin. The link of brief psychotic disorder to the genes is due to the fact that for people who have family members who have bipolar disorder or have shown symptoms of mood disorder, development of brief psychotic disorder is common. However, arguments that the brief psychotic disorder is caused by poor coping skills shows that the genes are not the major cause of the disorder. A traumatic experience or major stress in a person increases one vulnerability to develop the disorder. Genes may increase one’s risk of developing the disorder and although the brief psychotic disorder has been associated to the genes one inherits from the parents, carefully controlled clinical studies have not been able to show that psychotic disorders are biological in origin. Manic depression which characterizes the brief psychotic disorder is associated with an imbalance of serotonin and norepinephrine in the body. During the depressed period, these two are in low levels while during the manic periods the chemicals are in high levels. The predominance of the bipolar disorder has been linked to genetic inheritance. A study done on twins supports the argument that psychotic disorders may have a biological origin . The study that has been conducted on twins show that bipolar disorder is predominant in identical (monozygotic) twins as compared to fraternal (dizygotic). This indicates that a greater chance of inheriting the disorder is in monozygotic twins The fact that psychotic disorders are treated using medication shows that the disorders have a biological component (Samuel, 2003) . For example, the bipolar disorder can be treated using medication. Examples of medication that is used to treat the disorders include mood stabilizers and medication that tries to balance the depressive and manic states in patients. The use of lithium results to counterbalancing of depression and mania effects since it increases the reuptake of nonepinephinne and serotonin. Anticonvulsants such as Carbamazepine (CBZ) and Valproate (VPA) are prescribed to treat bipolar disorders. A case of three sisters who had shared psychotic disorder in United States show that individual who are close can be affected by delusions. The disorder which is shared by individuals who had emotional ties involved three sisters (Kaustubh et al, 2006). The three sisters’ illness was linked to the family’s psychiatric history which showed that the sisters had two first degree relatives diagnosed with schizophrenia. Both the mother and brother had the psychotic disorder and the mother had been hospitalized often- based on this case. The information relating to the disorder show that the case of shared psychotic disorder may involve members of one family and cases of the disorder are more common in members of the same family. It is more common between sisters than in brothers. Research has been conducted on twins and multiple families and show that genetic factors play a major role in promoting the development of psychotic disorders. Studies that have been conducted on twins show that when one twin develops mood disorder, the identical twin is three times more likely to develop the disorder as compared to fraternal twins or siblings who have not been born as twins. In addition, researchers have asserted that the neurotransmitter system in one’s body plays a role in the development of bipolar disorder. However, more research is recommended to determine the exact role of neurotransmitter system in the development of the bipolar disorder. The potential cause of delusional disorder which characterizes psychotic disorders includes neurological abnormalities and changes in brain chemistry as well as heredity. In addition, the disorder has been associated with abnormalities in the limbic system. The limbic system in the brain regulates emotions. Research studies to determine whether biological factors play a role in causing schizophrenia have involved establishing whether there is any connection between Val66Met which is a brain-delivered neurotrophic factor. The results indicate that homozygous carriers Met/Met increased the risk of one developing schizophrenic by 10 percent (Gratacos et al, 2007). The connection between Val66met to the development of schizophrenia shows that psychotic disorders may have a biological origin. The development of psychotic disorder is linked to biological functioning of the brain. An imbalance of the neurotransmitting chemicals in ones brain contribute to the development of psychotic disorders. The imbalance is considered to be inherited or triggered by physical or psychological events. For example, some disruption of early brain development while in the womb may trigger psychotic disorders. Substance-induced psychotic disorders may be caused by one’s withdrawal from using a certain drug and this may to some extent support the claim that the development of the disorder has a biological component (Matcheri and John,1991). For instance, recreational drugs such as cocaine, PCP, Marijuana, alcohol, and hallucinogenics may result to psychotic reaction when a user withdraws from using them (Rashmi and Mark, 2009). In addition, psychotic symptoms may be induced by prescribed medication such as anticonvulsants, chemotherapeutic agents and steroids. Conclusion Psychotic disorders cause abnormal perceptions and thinking in patients. Hallucinations and delusions are two major symptoms of the disorders. Individuals who are affected by psychotic disorders have their ability to make good judgments and to think clearly altered. There are various types of psychotic disorders which vary in cause and treatment. Treatment of the disorder includes therapy and medication. Research that have been conducted in relation to psychotic disorders show that some cases of the disorder may have a biological origin. However,research on the disorders indicate that the disorders result from the interaction of biological, psychosocial and environmental factors. References Bentall, R. , and Slade, P. 1988. Sensory Deception. Taylor and Francis Publishers. Daryl, F. , and Iqbal, A. 2007. The spectrum of psychotic disorders: neurobiology, etiology, and Pathogenesis. Cambridge University Press Freudenreich, O. 2007. Psychotic Disorders: A Practical Guide, Practical Guides in Psychiatry Gratacos, M ET al. 2007. Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Val66Met and Psychiatric Disorders: Meta-Analysis of Case-Control Studies Confirm Association to Substance- Related Disorders, Eating Disorders, and Schizophrenia Biological Psychiatry, Volume 61, Issue 7, Pages 911-922 Habermann, T. , and Ghosh, A. 2006. Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic Internal Medicine Board Review, CRC Press Publishers, 2006