StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Biochemistry Final Project part 1 - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
The patient feels, perceives and thinks differently, and this completely affects how schizophrenics relate to the environment and other…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER96.9% of users find it useful
Biochemistry Final Project part 1
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Biochemistry Final Project part 1"

Schizophrenia Schizophrenia Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that affects almost of the human population in the world (Cohen, Kleinman, & Saraceno, 2002). The patient feels, perceives and thinks differently, and this completely affects how schizophrenics relate to the environment and other people close to them. During the active phase of the condition, the patient, who were otherwise healthy, presents with psychotic symptoms. Some of these include auditory hallucinations, disturbance in the way of thinking, social withdrawal, unusual behavior/speech and delusions.

Schizophrenia has been linked to the affected parents passing the genes to the children (genetic factors), unusual metabolic conditions and abnormal brain conditions (Cohen, Kleinman, & Saraceno, 2002).It is evident from research that kids with both parents free from schizophrenia have 1% risk of developing the illness. If either of the parents has schizophrenia, then the child`s risk of developing the disease rises to approximately 13%. If all parents have the illness, then there is a 46% chance of the child having the illness later in life.

There is an 8% risk in cases where, all other relatives are free from the disease, but a brother or a sister to an individual has schizophrenia. An identical twin of an individual with schizophrenia is 48% at risk as compared to only 17% risk in case of dizygotic twins (Pfaff, 2013). First-degree relatives of an individual with schizophrenia are at a greater risk than second-degree relatives. In addition to genetic factors, other environmental factors such as general stress play a role in developing schizophrenia.

Brain examination through neuroimaging has shown brain abnormalities in schizophrenics (Harman, 2003). The ventricles are enlarged, and there are fluid-filled cavities in the deeper parts of the brain. These abnormalities are the cause of the accompanying symptoms. Besides, an imbalance in neurotransmitters, dopamine, serotonin, and glutamate may cause schizophrenia. Homocysteine accumulation due to deficiency of methionine synthase and cystathionine β-synthase causes schizophrenia. Other conditions such as hypocalcemia and hyperparathyroidism are linked to schizophrenia.

Structural changes, copy number variations (CNV) in individual’s genome causes schizophrenia. CNV happens if the genetic material is lost, duplicated wrongly or inserted in a wrong manner. For instance deletion at 22q11 accounts for psychosis in 30% of cases. When 22q11 deletion occurs, essential genes that play a crucial role in schizophrenia such as that coding for proline dehydrogenase are lost.The American Psychiatric Association (APA) developed Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

It outlines the diagnostic steps to be used in diagnosing schizophrenia. The differential diagnosis involves taking a thorough medical history besides physical examination. It is important to rule out any other mental problem during diagnosis. Brain scan through neuroimaging is done to determine the particular brain region involved. The doctor should also request for a total blood count and levels of glucose, electrolytes, folic acid and vitamin B-12. Treatment of schizophrenia is symptom oriented.

Use of drugs that regulate neurotransmitter activity, antipsychotics, and antiepileptic drugs are common (Pfaff, 2013). Vitamin therapy is also included in the regimen since vitamins normalize disordered brain metabolism. If schizophrenia is not managed, the patients are at risk of harming themselves and are at a higher risk of dying earlier.Schizophrenia is my topic of choice since it has a genetic predisposition and involves a lot of biochemical changes. Besides, a distant relative and one of my friends have the condition, and I want to understand what they go through.

I did a thorough literature review to gather this knowledge.ReferencesCohen, A., Kleinman, A., & Saraceno, B. (2002). World mental health casebook social and mental health programs in low-income countries. New York: Kluwer Academic. Harman, C. E. (2003). The diagnosis and stigma of schizophrenia. Brookings, Or.: Old Court Press.Pfaff, D. W. (2013). Neuroscience in the 21st century from basic to clinical. New York, NY: Springer New York : Imprint: Springer. .

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Biochemistry Final Project part 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words”, n.d.)
Biochemistry Final Project part 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/chemistry/1691434-biochemistry-final-project-part-1
(Biochemistry Final Project Part 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words)
Biochemistry Final Project Part 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words. https://studentshare.org/chemistry/1691434-biochemistry-final-project-part-1.
“Biochemistry Final Project Part 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/chemistry/1691434-biochemistry-final-project-part-1.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Biochemistry Final Project part 1

Intelligent Design Theory - Pros and Cons, the Concept

The concept of intelligent design emerged in the latter part of the 20th century and was founded by experts in various scientific fields.... The paper "Intelligent Design Theory - Pros and Cons, the Concept" states that the design theory has received a lot of coverage from legitimate media and journals and even from Scientific American, which took its time to devote a stinging review of Phillip Johnson's book Darwin on Trial....
8 Pages (2000 words) Research Paper

Major Issue in Assessment: Authentic Assessment

This essay "Major Issue in Assessment: Authentic Assessment" shows that is a technique that necessitates the students to practically carry out a duty instead of doing a test.... This evaluation is intended to judge students' potential to employ specific proficiency and knowledge.... hellip; Therefore, many learning institutions are using authentic assessments to evaluate the performance of students....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

Clinical Biochemistry and Haematology

On the other hand, blood biochemistry tests such as Comb's test can effectively be used to check for a number of abnormalities in the body chemistry (Blann, 2007, p.... In most haematology laboratories, full blood count and biochemistry tests are some of the widely used wide screening methods that are often applied to check for the presence of disorders such as anaemia(decreased haemoglobin or red blood cells), infections as well as a number of other common diseases that can be manifested in different parts of the blood....
9 Pages (2250 words) Essay

The Fundamental of Biochemistry

This paper ''The Fundamental of biochemistry'' tells that Enzyme kinetic sins in the field of biochemistry are is concerned with the quantitative measurement of the rates of enzyme-catalyzed reactions that affect these rates.... Kinetic analysis permit scientists to reconstruct the number of individuals....
22 Pages (5500 words) Case Study

The Post of a Part-Time Protein Research Assistant

This paper under the following headline 'The Post of a part-Time Protein Research Assistant" focuses on the fact that the author will be completing the degree course in biomedical science in a few months from now.... The study of protein structure and function is an essential part of biochemistry.... For my final year project, I worked on Protein disease which has further provided guidance in understanding more professional techniques and skills....
10 Pages (2500 words) Resume/CV

Clinical Biochemistry and Haematology

The research paper “Clinical biochemistry and Haematology” seeks to evaluate differential diagnosis, which is methodical diagnostic systems that are used to spot the existence of an entity in cases where there are various alternatives are possible.... hellip; The author explains that it is the process is sometimes referred to as differential diagnostic procedure....
10 Pages (2500 words) Book Report/Review

Emergency Department Laboratory Improvement Evaluation at Saud City

Basically, the scope of the research work is to conduct a systematic literature review which aims to identify all strategies that can be used to effectively reduce wasted time whenever the healthcare professionals such as GPs and registered nurses would request for laboratory exams, at the time when biochemists and/or radiologists would perform the actual laboratory tests, and during the time when the biochemists and/or the radiologists would release the final laboratory results back to the GPs....
9 Pages (2250 words) Research Proposal

The Use of Biochemistry in Forensic Science

There has been a fast-growing science that has positively affected advances such as the project in human genetics.... "The Use of biochemistry in Forensic Science" paper argues that DNA analysis utilized in forensic science has become an effective tool to help in exonerating the innocent and bringing the guilty to justice.... biochemistry used in forensic science can have a huge impact on the events of the world.... ), biochemistry deals with matter molecules 'biomolecules' which make up living organisms....
12 Pages (3000 words) Literature review
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us