What causes Schizophrenia?

[Michaelangelica]

Abnormal Proteins Linked To Schizophrenia Found In Body Tissue

Toxoplasma gondii and Schizophrenia
Posted 12/03/2003
E. Fuller Torrey, Robert H. Yolken
Abstract and Introduction
Abstract

Recent epidemiologic studies indicate that infectious agents may contribute to some cases of schizophrenia. In animals, infection with Toxoplasma gondii can alter behavior and neurotransmitter function. In humans, acute infection with T. gondii can produce psychotic symptoms similar to those displayed by persons with schizophrenia.

Log In Problems

White said toxoplasmosis also may be linked to some cases of schizophrenia and bipolar disease.

Cluster Of Journals Publish MSU Findings On Common Parasite

"SCHIZOPHRENIA is a cruel disease," Torrey has written, with considerable understatement. Although it affects only 1 percent of the population, schizophrenia is among the most debilitating forms of mental illness.
. . .
For Torrey, Ewald, and others, that means looking for some kind of infectious agent that may exploit a genetic weakness when invading a host. This interplay of genetics and infectious disease is complex
. . .
Of the other diseases that Yolken tried to correlate with schizophrenia -- rubella, influenza, cytomegalovirus, chlamydia, and herpes simplex 2 (HSV-2) -- only herpes was significant.
Tests showed that mothers of schizophrenic children were 5.8 times more likely to have antibodies to HSV-2 than mothers of the healthy controls.

How might a herpes infection contracted in the womb lead to mental illness years later?
As Yolken sees it, the age when most schizophrenics first develop symptoms suggests exposure to some sort of "infectious agent which has a higher rate of transmission in late adolescence and early adulthood."

Yolken hypothesizes that the herpes virus remains quiescent in the brain until adolescence, when it is triggered by the Epstein-Barr virus that causes mononucleosis, also known as the kissing disease.

Another theory holds that it is reactivated by another version of itself picked up in sexual contact.
How such an infection translates into schizophrenia is still a matter of considerable speculation.
. . . ALTHOUGH Torrey and Yolken's theory that an infectious disease causes schizophrenia has gained some acceptance, or at least respect, it is still far from the prevailing view.
Torrey in particular has many critics, even among colleagues with whom he has collaborated. Take Irving Gottesman, a professor of psychology and clinical pediatrics at the University of Virginia and a major proponent of genetic explanations of schizophrenia.
The two men maintain a friendly relationship despite their differences. "The thing that keeps us together," explains Gottesman, "is that we have common enemies: the Freudians, the sociologists, the cultural anthropologists" -- anyone, in other words, who wants to ascribe schizophrenia to nonbiological causes.
They frequently co-author articles attacking what they perceive to be misallocations of mental health research funds. But when it comes to explaining schizophrenia, they part ways.
. . .
"Viruses could be epigenetic contributors, too,"
. . .
Neurodevelopmental thinking nonetheless remains at the center of current psychiatric accounts of schizophrenia. And though Torrey and Yolken's views currently sit on the margins, Ewald does not think they will remain there. "Infectious causation has been seriously underestimated from the 1800s onward," he notes. "Many people who suggested infectious causes of diseases were dismissed but later proven right." Take gastric ulcers
. . .

Torrey on schizoviruses (interview)

Abstract

Winter birth, urban birth and/or childhood residence, and perinatal complications have each been identified as environmental risk factors for the later development of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder. A preliminary case–control study also identified cat exposure in childhood as a possible risk factor

.ScienceDirect - Schizophrenia Research : The antecedents of psychoses: a case–control study of selected risk factors

Abnormalities in glutamate receptors.
Glutamate, an amino acid known to affect dopamine and excite nerve activity, is also under scrutiny. For example, glutamate binds to N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, which play a critical role in healthy nerve development and may be abnormal in schizophrenia. Abnormalities in NMDA and other molecules in the glutamate pathway appear to play significant roles in impairment of mental function and development of negative symptoms. Calcineurin, a protein that regulates the NMDA receptor, plays a role in cognition and is now recognized as a marker of risk for schizophrenia

Schizophrenia

Articles
The Role of Infections in Mental Illness

by Frank Strick, Clinical Research Director
THE RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR INFECTIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS (RIIMI)
Call 1800 6992466 then press pound (#) 8314255555
E-mail: riimiusa@gmail.com
San Francisco, USA
Other Notes: They serve clients world-wide via phone consultations.

In considering an infectious etiology to any chronic mental illness there are at least four categories to consider.
First are those infections already recognized to induce psychiatric symptoms. These include pneumonia, urinary tract infection, sepsis, malaria, Legionnaire's disease, syphilis, typhoid, diphtheria, HIV, rheumatic fever and herpes. (Ref: Chuang)

While the psychiatric effects of these infections are known to the medical field, they are rarely screened for if the initial presentation is made to a mental health professional.
Moreover, the significance of some of these infections may date back to prenatal development.
Research done at the John Hopkins Children's Center and published in the Archives of General Psychiatry in 2001 found that mothers with evidence of Herpes Simplex Type 2 infection at the time of pregnancy had children almost six times more likely to later develop schizophrenia.
And in the US, Europe and Japan, birth clusters of individuals who develop schizophrenia later in life closely mirror the seasonal distribution of Ixodes ticks at the time of conception (Lyme disease).

Second are those parasitic infections such as neurocysticercosis where the brain is directly invaded by the infective agent through a well-established, imageable (visible on brain scan) mechanism (cysts, lesions, cerebral swelling etc.) Signs of psychiatric disease (depression and psychosis) were found in over 65% of neurocysticercosis cases (caused by a tapeworm whose incidence in the US is rising due to demographic increases in foreign immigrant populations.) [Ref: Forlenza]
While the mechanisms for psychiatric manifestations are easy to demonstrate when brain tissue is directly affected, there are also multiple documented reports in the literature of psychiatric symptoms associated with other parasites like giardiasis, ascaris (roundworm), trichinae (cause of trichinosis), and Lyme borrelia and viruses like borna virus.
Documentation also exists of these psychiatric symptoms resolving when the underlying hidden infection is treated.

Dr. J. Packman of Yale University wrote over ten years ago that "Patients with parasitic loads are more likely to exhibit mental status changes and there is an improvement in mental status of a subset of psychiatric patients following treatment for parasites."
In fact, a review of 1300 human cases of trichinosis in Germany found CNS (central nervous system) involvement in up to 24% of the cases (Menningeal inflamation or encephalitis). [Ref: Froscher]

Clinically, in cases like neurocysticercosis, the problem is not the lack of a well-defined mechanism but the lack of mental health practitioners qualified to make such a diagnosis or even suspect it.
Even infectious disease specialists tend to underestimate the scope of the problem, in part due to underreporting (neurocysticercosis is not a reportable condition in most states and the incidence of trichinosis is, we believe, vastly underestimated according to newly developed antibody assays only made available in 2003)
. . .
Next are those parasitic, bacterial and viral infections like toxoplasmosis and strep where a strong statistical link to mental illness has been demonstrated but research is underway to establish a causal connection. In humans acute infection with toxoplasmosis gondii can cause brain lesions, changes in personality and symptoms of psychosis including delusions and auditory hallucinations..

The Role of Infections in Mental Illness

Evidence is mounting to link toxoplasmosis with schizophrenia
Disease/Infection News
Published: Tuesday, 18-Oct-2005

Keep pet cats inside, stop feeding strays, cook meat sufficiently and reconsider the way the veterinary profession and public health agencies think - and teach - about the zoonotic pathogen Toxoplasma gondii.
Such are the recommendations of Milton M. McAllister, a professor of pathobiology in the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

He delivered that message in Christchurch, New Zealand, at the 20th International Conference of the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology.

McAllister, also a clinical professor of pathology in the U. of I. College of Medicine at Urbana-Champaign, made his case based on his review of numerous studies on the animal-carried pathogen during the past decade.
His review, prepared for the conference, appeared in the Sept. 30 issue of the journal Veterinary Parasitology.

"Our profession needs to come to grip with the accumulating body of evidence about the tremendous burden wrought on society by toxoplasmosis," McAllister wrote. "Further research is needed to clarify the association between toxoplasmosis and mental health, but until such time that this association may be refuted, it is my opinion that the current evidence is strong enough to warrant an assumption of validity."

Evidence is mounting to link toxoplasmosis with schizophrenia

[maikeru]

Good articles, Michaelangelica, and I think there might be good reason to suspect that viruses or bacteria could be among the causes. IIRC, herpes viruses (HSV-1 and -2) can infect neurons and can become latent, which may provide some basis for the explanation that they could cause schizophrenia or other mental disease, through altering or damaging the neurons of the brain. Another example would be HIV and AIDS. If HIV invades the brain and become established in neurons, late in AIDS, it may be manifested through psychosis or other mental disease. In most people, herpes viruses do invade some neurons, but are kept under control by the immune system.

WHO | Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Babies are particularly at risk for infection and serious complications from herpes viruses, because their immune systems are not well developed and can't control the viruses quickly enough. Babies can become blind or brain-damaged if they get herpes infections.

[Michaelangelica]

Originally Posted by maikeru

In most people, herpes viruses do invade some neurons, but are kept under control by the immune system.

WHO | Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Babies are particularly at risk . . Babies can become blind or brain-damaged if they get herpes infections.

Thanks,
On STD's This is a hoot
The 12 STIs Of Christmas

Your WHO link is shocking. I couldn't believe this:

Genital herpes is one of the most common ulcerating diseases of the genital mucosa. It is estimated that in the USA, for example, from 40 to 60 million people are HSV-2-infected, with an incidence of 1–2 million infections and 600 000–800 000 clinical cases per year. Prevalence in the 30–40 year-old population is about 30%.
. . .
There is now ample evidence that HSV-2 infection is a major cofactor of HIV infection
and
. . .
Various studies have estimated that there are four to five million new cases of chlamydial infection each year in the USA alone. Among urban adolescent females, the incidence rate can be as high as 30%. The annual costs of treating and caring for patients with PID might be as high as US$10 billion.

We know syphilis causes brain problems. Do you know much about the others?


Would't it be remarkable if this terrible disese,Schizophrenia, scourge of mankind for eons , could be cured by an anti-viral pill.

[Michaelangelica]

Originally Posted by maikeru

Good articles, Michaelangelica, and I think there might be good reason to suspect that viruses or bacteria could be among the causes..

Thanks maikeru
This poped up in my "google alert" today.
I don't really know waht to make of it.

Abnormal Proteins Linked To Schizophrenia Found In Body Tissue
Main Category: Schizophrenia News
Article Date: 24 Dec 2006 - 2:00 PST

A new study suggests biochemical changes associated with schizophrenia aren't limited to the central nervous system and that the disease could have more encompassing effects throughout the body than previously thought.
The findings, scheduled for publication in the January 2007 issue of the American Chemical Society's Journal of Proteome Research, could lead to better diagnostic testing for the disease and could help explain why those afflicted with it are more prone to type II diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and other chronic health problems.
. . .
After looking at thousands of proteins, they found that people with schizophrenia had 14 liver proteins and eight red blood cell proteins that were significantly altered compared to individuals who didn't have the disease.
. . .
Several of these abnormal proteins appear to promote oxidative stress and disrupt energy metabolism in cells,

Abnormal Proteins Linked To Schizophrenia Found In Body Tissue

[Michaelangelica]

USA: Too slow to help, too eager to kill
Systemic failure and the execution of severely mentally ill offenders

Hundreds of severely mentally ill offenders in the US, are mired within a healthcare system that is too slow to help and a justice system that is too quick to pass death sentences
. . .
Scott Panetti, who was sentenced to death in Texas in 1995 for killing his parents-in-law in 1992. He has a long-documented history of hospitalization for his mental illness, including schizophrenia - which caused him visual and auditory hallucinations.

During his trial, Scott - who acted as his own lawyer dressed as a cowboy - said that demons had been laughing at him as he left the scene of the crime.

One of the doctors who was at the trial said: "...Scott was completely unaware of the effect of his words and actions. Members of the jury had hostile stares and looked at Scott in disbelief while he rambled and made no sense..."

Scott is still on death row.

Amnesty International Australia - USA: Too slow to help, too eager to kill
I wrote to the Governor of Texas about this kid. Never did get an acknowledgement or reply.
While the Psychiatrist said he had schizophrenia the jury disagreed.
Are all US Jurys that expert in metal Health? Amazing.

[InfiniteNow]

Originally Posted by Michaelangelica

I wrote to the Governor of Texas about this kid. Never did get an acknowledgement or reply.

Prolly cause Rick knows you're not a voter.

[PsyCho]

Interesting articles but really the tip of the publication pile. Though there may well be an infectious etiology for certain variants of schizophrenia, I doubt it provides (or rather will provide) the all encompassing explanation we would like.

I suspect the truth is that is is one of the multifactorial diseases; the end point manifestation of several different disease processes that result in a common presentation and similar underlying pathology. A bit like hypertension, Rhumatoid arthritis, MS, reversible leukoencephalopathy etc., etc., A sort of meta-disease...

The variation from person to person will be dependent on genetics (and possibly geographical & social location), and etiological agents will include autoimmune/inflammatory, infectious, genetic, drug and toxin related. The presentation will lie on a spectrum depending on above as well as temporal factors. The relentless progression and underlying white/grey matter changes makes one suspect that many agents can light a particular fire, but once it's burning it can be difficult to halt..... The question is what fuels that fire once it's burning...

Without reading the original research articles it's difficult to add weight to the different arms of this disease. Another interesting fact about schizophrenia (and interest of mine) is that it seems to be possible to detect early disease by examining saccadic eye movements ... Cool huh, the eyes are indeed the window to the soul

[Michaelangelica]

Originally Posted by PsyCho

Another interesting fact about schizophrenia (and interest of mine) is that it seems to be possible to detect early disease by examining saccadic eye movements ... Cool huh, the eyes are indeed the window to the soul

When nursing schizophrenic patients they seemed to have a certain"Look"
I have never heard of saccadic eye movements

Objective:Family studies have shown that abnormalities of smooth pursuit eye movement are increased in the adult relatives of schizophrenic probands as well as in the probands themselves. More recently, an inability of schizophrenic subjects to inhibit reflexive saccades reliably has been shown. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that the latter dysfunction is part of the extended schizophrenia phenotype

Saccadic Eye Movements in Families Multiply Affected With Schizophrenia: The Maudsley Family Study -- Crawford et al. 155 (12): 1703 -- Am J Psychiatry

Deficits in smooth pursuit eye movements are well documented in schizophrenia and schizotypic psychopathology. The status of eye tracking dysfunction (ETD) as an endophenotype for schizophrenia liability is relatively robust.

Entrez PubMed

I am not sure I understand what this means.
Can you explain in words of one sylable?

[InfiniteNow]

The way we see is often split into to methods.

1) Saccadic eye movements. These are jumpy, start/stop movements. For example, you are looking at your computer monitor, but then the cat jumps on the table and you quickly focus on that. It's incredibly fast and "snappy." These movements happen all of the time, as we refocus the object of interest into our visual sweet spot.

2) Smooth pursuit movements allow us to track movement of the same object, like when you watch an ant crawling across the table. Instead of having to follow it with choppy "focus here, now focus there, now focus there" movements, you remain focussed and pursue it smoothly.

Jeff B. Pelz

The first job of an eye movement system is to move the eye quickly from the current point of gaze to a new location. Vision is blurred during an eye movement, so the length of time that the eye is moving must be minimized. In order to minimize the time during which no clear image is captured on the fovea, eye movements that move the fovea from one object/point to another are very rapid. These saccadic eye movements are among the fastest movements the body can make; the eyes can rotate at over 500 deg/sec, and subjects make well over one hundred thousand of these saccades daily. These rapid eye movements are accomplished by a set of six muscles attached to the outside of each eye. They are arranged in three pairs of agonist-antagonist pairs; one pair rotates the eye horizontally (left - right), the second rotates the eye vertically (up - down), the third allows 'cyclotorsion,' or rotation about the line of sight.

Some helpful visual graphics of the visual system on this .pdf. -- Specific to this topic would be data on page 10.


Pursuit movement - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pursuit movement is the ability of the eyes to smoothly follow a moving object. It is one of two ways that visual animals can voluntarily shift gaze, the other being saccadic eye movements. Pursuit differs from the vestibulo-ocular reflex, which only occurs during movements of the head and serves to stabilize gaze on a stationary object. Most people find pursuit extremely difficult, if not impossible, to initiate without a moving visual signal.

[infamous]

While it is not the only factor, I've often felt that schizophrenia had some hereditary link involved with an individual's predispositional susceptibility. And complimenting this possibility, regressive genes may also be adding to the mix. As strange as it may sound, this thought occured to me one evening while watching a National Geographic special about wild life in Africa. The scene is set around a watering hole. Those animals stopping to drink appeared very nervous and paranoid. Needless to say, they had good reason because the lions are in the habit of taking advantage of these circumstances when catching their prey. It occured to me that overcautiousness displayed by we humans may be caused by a regressive gene memory from our distant past. Just thinking outloud............................Infy