Table of Contents - Schizophrenia Biology

1. The Most Recent Schizophrenia Biology News
2. The Most Recent Schizophrenia Research News and Journal Article Summaries
3. The Most Recent Schizophrenia Genetics News
4. Schizophrenia Researchers
   
5. Introductory Presentation on the Biology of Schizophrenia
   
6. Reports on Schizophrenia
   
7. Schizophrenia as a Model of Dopamine Dysfunction
   
8. Top Papers, Journals, Researchers and Institutions focused on Schizophrenia
   
9. Other Papers on Genetics and Mental Illness
   
10. Some of the Current Areas of Focus in Schizophrenia Research
    
11. Internet-based Schizophrenia Video Lectures and Presentations
    
12. Recommended Advanced Books on the Biology of Schizophrenia
    
13. Recommended Professional Books on Schizophrenia and Psychiatric Drugs
    
14. Types of Schizophrenia and Related Illnesses
    
15. Schizophrenia Genetics, Research Organizations, and Related Information
    

• The Most Recent Schizophrenia Biology News


See following link for the Archived Full List of Biology of Schizophrenia News


• The Most Recent Schizophrenia Research News and Journal Article Summaries
  
  
  See following link for the Archived Full List of Schizophrenia Research News and Journal Article Summaries
  


• The Most Recent Schizophrenia Genetics News
  
  
  See following link for the Archived Full List of Schizophrenia Genetics News

   

• Schizophrenia Researchers - Following is a list of some of the researchers who are helping most to advance the science as well as the public understanding of schizophrenia. It's an exciting time in schizophrenia biology and genetics today - with advancements and research papers on many new genes involved in schizophrenia coming out on a monthly basis. The work being done by "Decode Genetics, Inc." in particular seems to be some of the most forward looking and progressive. Decode's work represents the first time a gene has been identified by two independent studies to be associated with schizophrenia.
  • Dr. E. Fuller Torrey - Stanley Medical Research Institute
    • Schizophrenia's Most Zealous Foe
    • Interview with Dr. Torrey (1997)
    • "BirdBrains" - Dr. E. Fuller Torrey on NIMH Funding Priorities (May 2001)
    • Dr. Brain (Princeton Alumni Magazine)
    • Brain Storm (Stanford University Magazine)
    • Dr. Torry's Biography - (from Treatment Advocacy Center)
    • Real Audio Recording: The Mental Illness System: How It Broke and How to Fix It Speaker: Dr. E. Fuller Torrey, President, Treatment Advocacy Center, Bethesda, Maryland, September 2000. Don't have "Real Audio Player" - download a free copy from here.
    • Recently Published Books by Dr. E. Fuller Torrey
      • Surviving Schizophrenia: A Manual for Families, Consumers, and Providers (4th Edition)
      • Surviving Manic Depression: A Manual on Bipolar Disorder for Patients, Families, and Providers
      • The Invisible Plague: The Rise of mental Illness from 1750 to the Present

      • Out of the Shadows : Confronting America's Mental Illness Crisis

  • Nancy C. Andreasen - University of Iowa
    • Dr. Michael Flaum on his work with Nancy Andreasen
    • Nancy C. Andreasen M,D., Ph.D. Biography
    • Ask the Experts: Nancy C. Andreasen M,D., Ph.D.
      
    • Published Books
    • Brave New Brain: Conquering Mental Illness in the Era of the Genome
    • Introductory Textbook of Psychiatry (3rd Edition)
      
    • The Broken Brain
    • Schizophrenia: From Mind to Molecule (American Psychopathological Association)
    • Schizophrenia: Positive and Negative Symptoms and Syndromes (Modern Problems of Pharmacopsychiatry, Vol. 24)
      
  • Dr. Kari Stefansson, Founder, Decode Genetics, Inc. (Iceland)
    • Genetic Research, Icelandic genes offer a wealth of disease clues
    • DeCode-ing Schizophrenia
    • Gene May Play a Role in Schizophrenia (2nd Study Confirms)
      
    
    
  • Dr. Irv Gottesman - University of Virginia
    • Interview with Dr. Gottesman (who has been a ever-helpful source of information for schizophrenia.com)
    • Published Books
      • Psychiatric Genetics and Genomics
      • Schizophrenia Genesis: The Origins of Madness
  • Dr. Tom McGlashan & Dr. Scott Woods (Yale University)
    • Can Schizophrenia Be Prevented?
    • Focus on proactively treating early-phase schizophrenia in adolescents
  • Dr. March Shelton - Harvard University
    • Interview with Dr. Shelton (Harvard University)
  • Dr. Ann Pulver - Johns Hopkins University
    • Epidemiology - Genetics Program in Psychiatry
    • Zeroing in on Schizophrenia Genes
    • Study Shows First Genetic Evidence for Schizophrenia Susceptibility
    • Search for Schizophrenia Gene Takes an Unplanned Turn
  • Dr. Tonmoy Sharma - Institute of Psychiatry (London, UK)
    • New Imaging Research Reveals Dysfunction In The Brain's "Hub" In The Earliest Stages Of Schizophrenia
    • 25-minute test distinguishes between different types of schizophrenia
    • Schizophrenia test moves closer (BBC)
    • Brain images provide a means of screening for schizophrenia (The Scientist)
    • In Schizophrenia, Thalamus Is Smaller Than Normal
      
    • Books Published
      • Brain Imaging in Schizophrenia: Insights and Applications
        
      • Cognition in Schizophrenia: Impairments, Importance, and Treatment Strategies
        
  • Dr. Paul Greengard, Professor and Head of the Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience at Rockefeller University. Nobel Laureate in Medicine, 2000
    • Summary of Greengard lecture, presented at Emory University in April 2005, detailing his work on the dopamine neuron protein DARPP-32
    • DARPP-32 may be culprit in schizophrenia symptoms (Psychiatric News, Sept 2002)
    • Brain's 'Master Molecule' Produces Same Behavior in Mice From Three Different Psychostimulant Drugs (Science Daily, Nov 2003)
    • NARSAD Distinguished Investigator Grant Recipient, 2002
    • Recipient of the 1996 Lieber Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Schizophrenia Resesarch
  • Dr. Peter McGuffin
    • Interview with Dr. McGuffin
  • Dr. Daniel R. Weinberger
    • Interview with Dr. Weinberger
      
      
  • More Very Good Interviews with Schizophrenia Researchers
    
  
  
• Introductory Presentation on the Biology of Schizophrenia
  • Neurobiological Bases of Psychiatric Disorders
  • What do we mean by Disease?
  • Inheritability of Disease
  • Twin Studies
  • Neural Mechanisms Usually Follow Effective Drug Treatment
  • Importance of Biogenic Amines
  • Schizophrenia - an Overview
  • Strong Genetic Component to Schizophrenia
  • MRI Images of Brains of People that Have Schizophrenia
  • Cellular Disarray in Brains of People that Have Schizophrenia
  • Hypofrontality in Schizophrenia
  • Chlorpromazine treatment of Schizophrenia
  • Dehospitalization Rates After Adoption of Antipsychotic Medications
  • Dopamine Hypothesis of Schizophrenia
  • Effectiveness of Neuroleptic medications is highly correlated with binding affinity to DA receptors
  • How Chlorpromazine Works
  • Dopamine is not the Whole Story
  
  
  Other Biology of Schizophrenia Presentations
  
  • Schizophrenia and Other Psychiatric Disorders (Houghton University)
  • Neurobiology of Schizophrenia - by Stephen Rayport, MD, PhD (Columbia University)
  • Schizophrenia - Physiological Psychology (University of Idaho)
    • Schizophrenia Presentation
    • Schizophrenia Presentation (Audio File) (Real Audio file - Download Free Player here, if you don't have it)
    • Schizophrenia Presentation (Transcript)
      
  • Psychotic Disorders (Spring 05, pdf). Source: University of Illinois Dept. of Psych
  • Intramuscular Olanzapine - New Drug Application (Lilly)
    
    
• Reports on Schizophrenia
• Glycine Therapy - A New Direction for Schizophrenia Treatment? (report on the merits of glycine as a possible complementary therapy for schizophrenia, including an interview with researcher Dr. Dan Javitt. Apr 2005. HTML File)
• A Neurological Basis for Poor Insight in Schizophrenia - Review of the Research (paper for an advanced neuroscience research seminar, Dec 2004. HTML File)
• Recent advances in understanding mental illness and psychotic experiences - Year 2000, 300K PDF File, ( A report by The British Psychological Society, Division of Clinical Psychology)
• Early Psychosis Treatment Guide - Year 2002, University of British Columbia - Note: this is a large (3 MB) PDF file and it may take a few minutes to download if you have a slow internet connection).
• Lecture: Exploring the Mind and Brain in Health and Disease (by Nancy Andreasen)
• Free Access to Schizophrenia Reseach Papers - via Highwire Press at Stanford University
  
  
• Schizophrenia as a Model of Dopamine Dysfunction (Excerpt from Timmons and Hamilton textbook) Note: this textbook excerpt is rather old (1990) but still a very good introduction to the biology of schizophrehia. See the videos and recommended reading below for more current information on the biology and genetics of schizophrenia.

  • A. INTRODUCTION
    B. CLASSIFICATION OF SCHIZOPHRENIA
    C. EVIDENCE FOR BIOLOGICAL BASES OF SCHIZOPHRENIA
    

    • Distribution of Occurrence
    • Genetic Patterns
    • Drug Effects and Schizophrenia
    D. BIOLOGICAL MODELS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA
    • Searching for a Chemical Label
    • The DBH Model
    • Rationale
    • DBH as a rate limiter
    • Other Dopamine Models
    • Metabolic pathway theories
    • Receptor theories
    • Endorphin contributions
    • Movement Disorders
    E. SUMMARY
    • Principles
    • Terms
    
    University of Plymouth - On-line Class on Schizophrenia
    
    Top Papers, Journals, Researchers and Institutions focused on Schizophrenia
    • The Top 50 Most-Cited Papers in Schizophrenia Research (as of 2001)
    • Top Journals on Schizophrenia Research (as of 2001)
    • Top Schizophrenia Research Institutions (based on the number of papers published, 2001)
    • Top 25 Authors of Schizophrenia Research Papers (2001)
    • ScienceWatch - List of High Impact Journals in Psychiatry (2000)
    • Best Place to Search for New Research Papers on Schizophrenia: www.pubmed.org
      

    
    Sample of Papers that are Available On-Line

  • An Automated Measurement of Subcortical Brain MR Structures in Schizophrenia (Harvard)
  • Finding Genes for Schizophrenia (Source: Swedish PHD Thesis by Carolina Aberg )
  • Increased Expression in Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex of CAPON in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder
    
    
• Some of the Current Areas of Focus in Schizophrenia Research
  • Genes involved with schizophrenia
    • Decoding Schizophrenia (Scientific American Magazine)
    • Scientists identify more gene defects linked to schizophrenia
    • Gene May Play a Role in Schizophrenia - Second Major Study Confirms
    • Genes clue to schizophrenia - site requires free registration to view
    • Israeli Biotech: Schizophrenia Associated With the COMT Gene
    • Gene Increases Schizophrenia Risk, Says Study
    • SCHIZOPHRENIA: Cause may be interaction of genes and viruses in glia cells
  • Glutamate
    • Hypoglutamatergic hypothesis of schizophrenia: evidence from genetic studies
    • Schizophrenia: from dopamine to glutamate and back
    • Expression of the ionotropic glutamate receptor subunits and NMDA receptor-associated intracellular proteins in the substantia nigra in schizophrenia
    • Targeting metabotropic glutamate receptors for treatment of the cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia
  • GABA and Schizophrenia
    • GABA and schizophrenia: a review of basic science and clinical studies
  • Viruses
    • The glial growth factors deficiency and synaptic destabilization hypothesis of schizophrenia
    • Genes, germs, and schizophrenia: an evolutionary perspective
    • Prenatal exposure to influenza as a risk factor for adult schizophrenia
  • Early Detection and Treatment of People for Schizophrenia
    • Smell test 'spots schizophrenia' (early diagnosis opportunities)
    • Earlier diagnosis of schizophrenia improves results of treatment (Yale, 2004)
    • Eye Movement Studies To Help Diagnose Mental Illness
  • Omega - 3 Fatty Acids and Schizophrenia
    • Omega 3 and EFA Fatty Acids and Antioxidants Useful for Schizophrenia
      
  
  
• Internet-based Schizophrenia Video Lectures and Presentations are now on their own webpage. Please visit http://www.schizophrenia.com/video/index.htm#biovideo for a complete list
  

Recommended Advanced Books on the Biology of Schizophrenia

These books cover the science, biology and genetics of schizophrenia. "Nature via Nurture", while not specifically a book about schizophrenia - has an entire chapter (Chapter 4 - The Madness of Causes) on the genetics and environmental influences of schizophrenia. Overall, the book is a well-written and very enjoyable book about the interplay of genes and environment in human development. Dr. Nancy Andreason's and Dr. Irv Gottesman's books are good in-depth college-level books covering schizophrenia by two of the leading researchers that are focused on schizophrenia.

Nature Via Nurture : Genes, Experience, and What Makes Us Human by Matt Ridley (Author), Publisher: HarperCollins; (April 29, 2003) ISBN: 0060006781

Psychiatric Genetics and Genomics by Peter McGuffin (Editor), Michael J Owen (Editor), Irving I Gottesman (Editor), Publisher: Oxford University Press; (December 2, 2002), ISBN: 0192631489

Brave New Brain: Conquering Mental Illness in the Era of the Genome by Nancy C. Andreasen, Publisher: Oxford University Press; (April 2001) ISBN: 0195145097 (HARDCOVER) "Excellent introductions to neuroscience, brain imaging, and genetics. Outstanding overviews of what is known about the neuroscience and genetics of the major psychiatric disorders of schizophrenia, mood disorders, dementia, and anxiety disorders. The descriptions of the history and neuroscience of medication are especially good."--Nature

Brave New Brain: Conquering Mental Illness in the Era of the Genome by Nancy C. Andreasen , Publisher: Oxford University Press; (February 2004), ISBN: 0195167287, (SOFTCOVER)

Schizophrenia Genesis: The Origins of Madness by Irving I. Gottesman, Publisher: W H Freeman & Co.; (November 1990) ISBN: 0716721473

The BROKEN BRAIN by Nancy C. Andreasen (Author), Publisher: Perennial; Reprint edition (November 1985) ISBN: 0060912723 (Note: this is an old book -- over 15 years old -- and should only be referenced if the more recent books listed above are not available. Information in the field of genetics is progressing rapidly, and a book that is 15 years old is truly ancient).

Recommended Professional Books on Schizophrenia and Psychiatric Drugs

Psychiatric Genetics and Genomics by Peter McGuffin (Editor), Michael J Owen (Editor), Irving I Gottesman (Editor), Publisher: Oxford University Press; (December 2, 2002), ISBN: 0192631489

Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of Patients with Schizophrenia by American Psychiatric Association, APA, Publisher: Amer Psychiatric Pr; 1st edition (January 15, 1997) ISBN: 0890423091. Developed by experts on schizophrenia and exhaustively reviewed by APA members, the American Psychiatric Association Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Schizophrenia provides therapists with a set of patient care strategies that will aid their clinical decision making. Note: This publication is usually available on-line for free at: The American Psychiatric Association website

Serious Mental Illness and the Family: The Practitioner's Guide by Diane T. Marsh, Publisher: John Wiley & Sons; 1 edition (October 2, 1998) ISBN: 0471181803

Schizophrenia by Steven R. Hirsch (Editor), Daniel R. Weinberger (Editor), Penny R. Mitchell, Publisher: Blackwell Publishers; 2nd Revision edition (March 2003) ISBN: 0632063882

Comprehensive Care of Schizophrenia by Lieberman, Publisher: Martin Dunitz Ltd; (December 2001) ISBN: 1841841501

Schizophrenia and Mood Disorders: The New Drug Therapies in Clinical Practice By Peter F. Buckley (Editor), John L. Waddington (Editor), Publisher: Edward Arnold; 1st edition (February 15, 2000) ISBN: 0750640960

Insight and Psychosis by Xavier F. Amador (Editor), Anthony S. David (Editor), David Amador, Publisher: Oxford University Press; (January 1998) ISBN: 0195084977

Distinguishing Psychological From Organic Disorders: Screening for Psychological Masquerade by Robert L., Md. Taylor, Publisher: Springer Pub Co; 2nd edition (July 15, 2000) ISBN: 082611329X

The Schizophrenias: A Biological Approach to the Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders (Springer Series on Psychiatry) by Mary Coleman, Christopher Gillberg, Publisher: Springer Pub Co; (September 1996) ASIN: 0826192904

Genetics and Mental Illness: Evolving Issues for Research and Society by Laura Lee Hall (Editor), Publisher: Plenum Pr; (January 1996) ISBN: 0306451662

Treating Schizophrenia (Jossey-Bass Social and Behavioral Science Series) by Werner M. Mendel, Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1st Edition edition (June 1989) ASIN: 1555421512

Types of Schizophrenia and Related Illnesses

• Schizophrenia
  • Paranoid schizophrenia - These persons are very suspicious of others and often have grand schemes of persecution at the root of their behavior. Halluciations and delusions are prominent.
  • Disorganized schizophrenia (Hebephrenic Schizophrenia) - In this case the person is verbally incoherent and may have moods and emotions that are not appropriate to the situation. Hallucinations are not usually present.
  • Catatonic schizophrenia - In this case, the person is extremely withdrawn, negative and isolated, and has marked psychomotor disturbances.
  • Residual schizophrenia - In this case the person is not currently suffering from delusions, hallucinations, or disorganized speech and behavior, but lacks motivation and interest in day-to-day living.
  • Schizoaffective disorder - These people have symptoms of schizophrenia as well as mood disorder such as major depression, bipolar mania, or mixed mania.
  • Undifferentiated Schizophrenia - Conditions meeting the general diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia but not conforming to any of the above subtypes, or exhibiting the features of more than one of them without a clear predominance of a particular set of diagnostic characteristics.
    
• Schizoid Personality
• Schizophreniform Disorder
• Schizotypal Personality
• Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression) - frequently misdiagnosed as schizophrenia (and vise versa)
  

Schizophrenia Genetics, Research Organizations, and Related Information

• Schizophrenia Genetics
  • Database for Schizophrenia candidate genes - "The Database for Schizophrenia candidate genes focusing on Variations(VSD) includes the genes that contains polymorphisms related with schizophrenia. Has also information about the metabolic pathways in an easy-to-use interface."
• The Costs of Schizophrenia/Mental Illness
  • U.S. Health Official Puts Schizophrenia Costs At $65 Billion
  • 10 Year Goals to be set in Brain Research - Europe
• Worldwide Prevalence of Mental illness
  • World Health Organization (WHO) report from 10th International Psychopathology Conference
  Research Funding Organizations
  • The Stanley Foundation Research Programs
  • NARSAD - National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression
  • NIMH Genetics Research Branch
• Schizophrenia Research Centers (a sample, in no particular order)
  • USA Schizophrenia Research Centers
    • UCLA Center for Research on Treatment & Rehabilitation of Psychosis
    • UC San Diego
    • University of Michigan - Meador/Woodruff Laboratory
    • UC Irvine
    • Stanford University
    • Harvard Schizophrenia Research Project
    • Yale - Schizophrenia Research Clinic
    • The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine
    • University of Colorado - Schizophrenia Center
    • University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic (WPIC)
  • Canadian Schizophrenia Research Centers
    • Toronto - Center for Addiction and Mental Health
    • University of British Columbia
    • McGill University
    • University of Saskatchewan
    • University of Alberta
• Research Symposiums and Events
  
• Schizophrenia Related Research Journals
  • Archives of General Psychiatry
  • Archives of Neurology
  • American Journal of Psychiatry
  • Behavioral and Brain Sciences
  • Biological Psychiatry
  • British Medical Journal
  • Canadian Medical Association Journal
  • International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation
  • InterPsych Newsletter
  • Journal of Abnormal Psychology
  • Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)
  • Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology
  • Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Journal of Neuroscience
  • Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience
  • Journal of Practical Psychiatry and Behavioral Health (R)
  • Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
  • Nature
  • New England Journal of Medicine
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
  • Psychiatry On-line
  • Psychological Bulletin
  • Psychological Medicine
  • Psychosomatic Medicine
  • Psychiatry Research
  • Science
  • Schizophrenia Research
  • The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
  • The Lancet
  • The Neurologist
• Schizophrenia Scientific and Professional Organizations
  • American Psychiatric Association (APA)
  • American Psychological Society (APS)
  • American Psychological Association (APA)
  • Society of Biological Psychiatry
  • Society for Neuroscience
  • American Medical Association (AMA)
• Companies/Organizations Researching the Genetic Causes of Schizophrenia
  • NIMH Genetics Initiative
  • Another Company researching Genetics and Schizophrenia
  • Canadian Company doing research into genetic causes of Schizophrenia
  • Decode Genetics, Inc.(Iceland) Note: The founder of Decode Genetics, Dr. Stefansson has a considerable emotional investment in the disease because his elder brother has schizophrenia.
    • DeCode-ing Schizophrenia
    • Gene May Play a Role in Schizophrenia (2nd Study Confirms)