Did You Know…
43.8 million Americans experience mental illness each year. And of those, about half a million Americans suffer from Schizophrenia each year, which makes this a very common disease. Keep in mind, this disease affects a lot of people we may encounter in our everyday lives.
https://www.nami.org/
What is Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a considerably common mental illness that involves positive symptoms (hallucinations, paranoia, compulsive behavior, etc.) and negative symptoms (absent emotional responses, social withdrawal, reductions in speech, etc.) and can greatly affect everyday life for those with the illness.
What Causes Schizophrenia?
In our brains, we have many different complex biological pathways that lead to a specific response. The main pathway that is disrupted in Schizophrenia is the Wnt/GSK3 Pathway.
The most important molecule in this pathway is a protein, beta-catenin. This protein is needed for normal gene expression.
However, in people with Schizophrenia, an increase in dopamine in the brain over stimulates D2 receptors (dopamine-specific receptors). The activation of this new pathway inhibits another key molecule, Akt, which in turn cannot inhibit GSK3.
Therefore, GSK3 in the Wnt Pathway is now active and is a part of a destruction complex that destabilizes beta-catenin. Beta-catenin is now no longer able to provide necessary gene transcription for the brain.
The under-expression of genes in the brain and anywhere in the body is detrimental to normal function. Therefore, the result of this failed pathway leads to Schizophrenia.
https://moodle.cord.edu/pluginfile.php/625277/mod_resource/content/2/2013%20wnt%20GSK%20and%20schizophrenia.pdf
www.wormbook.org
How do we fix Schizophrenia?
There is more to Schizophrenia than we know biologically. The disease is a combination of internal and external factors. Drugs on the market mainly target D2 receptors which is not solving the problem just covering it. But therapy can help keep patients on medications necessary for remission.
https://moodle.cord.edu/pluginfile.php/625277/mod_resource/content/2/2013%20wnt%20GSK%20and%20schizophrenia.pdf
How Would You Feel About Your Doctor Having Schizophrenia?
Understanding the prevalence, symptoms, underlying causes, and possible treatments of Schizophrenia, here are my final thoughts and questions:
It is highly likely one of our doctors suffers from some type of mental illness, maybe even Schizophrenia. Should doctors be required to go through mental illness tests?
Knowing there are drugs on the market to subside symptoms, do you think your doctor should be able to practice medicine if he/she has Schizophrenia?
Can doctors without mental illness make the same mistakes as those with mental
illness?
Do we all have some type of mental abnormality whether or not we consider it a mental illness because we all differ in thought and mind?
How does our society treat people with mental illness and should they be allowed to do what they love?
I don’t have all or any of the answers but they are important to consider and ponder.
I know if it were me, I would do everything I could to keep my medical license because it is what I was meant to be, but there are always two sides to the story.
Let’s Consider the Questions
