Contemporary Study for Schizophrenia : Carlsson et al

• What do FGAs primarily target in schizophrenia treatment?

  Dopamine
• What negative side effect is associated with FGAs?

  Tardive dyskinesia
• What is suggested to cause schizophrenia according to Carlsson?

  Hyperdopaminergia and hypoglutamatergia
• What was Carlsson's aim in his research?

  To explain schizophrenia beyond dopamine hypothesis
• What relationship did Carlsson investigate in his study?

  The relationship between dopamine and glutamate
• What type of studies did Carlsson's literature review include?

  Animal studies, human studies, post mortems
• What is a strength of Carlsson's sample in his research?

  High generalisability due to diverse schizophrenia types
• What is a weakness of Carlsson's research regarding validity?

  Researcher bias from Carlsson's involvement
• What did Miller and Abercrombie find using an NMDA antagonist?

  Enhanced dopamine release with decreased glutamate function
• What is a weakness of the study by Miller and Abercrombie regarding generalisability?

  Use of rodents limits evolutionary continuity
• Why is it more ethical to use animals in research with amphetamines?

  It avoids physical/psychological harm to humans
• What method did Laruelle et al use to measure dopamine release?

  SPECT and PET scans
• What correlation did Laruelle et al find in their study?

  Positive correlation between amphetamines and positive symptoms
• What is a strength of using PET scans in Laruelle's study?

  Objective measures increase internal validity
• Why is the use of PET scans considered standardised?

  It allows for easy replication of the study
• What did Lindstrom use in his research on drug naive Sz patients?

  Radiolabelled DOPA or fluorodopa
• What did Lindstrom find regarding dopamine turnover?

  Aberration of dopamine turnover in the brain
• What is a strength of Lindstrom's research regarding ethics?

  Research was already in the public domain
• What is a weakness of Carlsson's literature review?

  Contains secondary data with potential flaws
• What role does glutamate play in schizophrenia according to Carlsson's findings?

  Glutamate deficiency contributes to psychosis
• What negative symptoms are linked to glutamate failure?

  Poverty of speech
• What positive symptoms are linked to failure in the basal ganglia?

  Hallucinations
• How does glutamate function in relation to dopamine levels?

  Excites dopamine release when low, inhibits when high
• What is the link between low dopamine levels and negative symptoms?

  Linked to the mesocortical pathway
• What is the link between high dopamine levels and positive symptoms?

  Linked to the mesolimbic pathway
• What is a strength of researching neurotransmitters in schizophrenia?

  Improves treatments for resistant patients
• What is a benefit of using secondary data in Carlsson's research?

  No direct participant involvement reduces harm
• What practical application does Carlsson's study suggest?

  Some patients may benefit from glutamatergic treatments
• What does clozapine target in schizophrenia treatment?

  Both serotonin and glutamate
• What is a limitation of clozapine as a treatment?

  It is a weak dopamine antagonist
• What does Sendt et al support regarding future research?

  Need to increase glutamate levels in treatments