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Cortical Deficits in Schizophrenia: From Genes to Function
This hugely important text aims to illuminate one of the most difficult areas of study in psychiatric medicine – the basis for schizophrenia in human DNA. The genetics of schizophrenia have been elusive for decades. Lately, however, a complex set of genes and gene variations that confer predisposition to schizophrenia have been identified. The challenge is to understand the biology of the genes and find out how they exert their influence. Here is all the latest research.
252 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
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August 22, 2021
The book being reviewed here is quite technical, and it appears that its intended readership consists of professionals in neuroscience, pharmacology, genetics, and (possibly) psychiatry. The book consists of eleven chapters, all of which have different professional authors.
As for my interests in this volume, they centered upon questions regarding the etiology of schizophrenia, as well as possibilities for resolution of the condition. It seems as if modern psychiatry takes to an extreme the medical model of mental illness, and it seems that emotional factors, developmental environmental factors, environmental stressors, etc. are given short shrift. I regard this as a serious mistake. Although there’s undeniable evidence for genetic factors in most cases of schizophrenia, blaming the illness exclusively (or even primarily) on genes and other physiological factors fails to account for the monumental impacts that emotional development can have on the developing brain, as a function of the social and psychological surroundings of the developing child. Therefore, I regard it as vital that more attention be given to family environmental factors when considering how and why cases of schizophrenia developed. Giving due credence to environmental factors during childhood could not only encourage efforts to promote healthy family environments, but might even help facilitate therapeutic strategies for surviving and, as much as is possible, overcoming the illness. In other words, relegating the illness to the status of a biological disease is to excuse the possible familial factors that might have powerfully contributed to the development of an illness, for which there already existed predisposing genetic factors.
The book being reviewed is, of course, principally a study of biological factors in the development and treatment of schizophrenia. However, as a layman reading the book, I wish that more attention had been focused on causative factors for schizophrenia, including the distinct possibility that dysfunctional family environments can play a crucial role in determining whether there is merely the risk for the development of schizophrenia, or whether a full-blown and devastating illness, in fact, results.
One thing is entirely clear: More than genes is involved in the incidence of schizophrenia, because, statistically, it has been found that, even in the case of identical twins, if one twin has schizophrenia, there’s only a 50% (not 100%) chance that the other identical twin will have the disease. Of course, the probability of being schizophrenic (statistically speaking) is much increased by having a close biological relative who has the illness, but it is clear that more is involved than genetic factors.
It is, therefore, my wish to see the psychiatric profession become much more sensitized to the fact that emotional forces and pressures on developing children can have monumentally vital impacts, including the undoubtedly critical role in determining whether or not a given child (with specific genetic qualities) will ever become a psychiatric patient – or even a schizophrenic patient. Unfortunately, the book here reviewed offers no support along those desired lines. It is, however, a highly technical analysis of some of the critical genetic and other biological factors that operate where schizophrenia exists. For that, the book deserves credit.
As for my interests in this volume, they centered upon questions regarding the etiology of schizophrenia, as well as possibilities for resolution of the condition. It seems as if modern psychiatry takes to an extreme the medical model of mental illness, and it seems that emotional factors, developmental environmental factors, environmental stressors, etc. are given short shrift. I regard this as a serious mistake. Although there’s undeniable evidence for genetic factors in most cases of schizophrenia, blaming the illness exclusively (or even primarily) on genes and other physiological factors fails to account for the monumental impacts that emotional development can have on the developing brain, as a function of the social and psychological surroundings of the developing child. Therefore, I regard it as vital that more attention be given to family environmental factors when considering how and why cases of schizophrenia developed. Giving due credence to environmental factors during childhood could not only encourage efforts to promote healthy family environments, but might even help facilitate therapeutic strategies for surviving and, as much as is possible, overcoming the illness. In other words, relegating the illness to the status of a biological disease is to excuse the possible familial factors that might have powerfully contributed to the development of an illness, for which there already existed predisposing genetic factors.
The book being reviewed is, of course, principally a study of biological factors in the development and treatment of schizophrenia. However, as a layman reading the book, I wish that more attention had been focused on causative factors for schizophrenia, including the distinct possibility that dysfunctional family environments can play a crucial role in determining whether there is merely the risk for the development of schizophrenia, or whether a full-blown and devastating illness, in fact, results.
One thing is entirely clear: More than genes is involved in the incidence of schizophrenia, because, statistically, it has been found that, even in the case of identical twins, if one twin has schizophrenia, there’s only a 50% (not 100%) chance that the other identical twin will have the disease. Of course, the probability of being schizophrenic (statistically speaking) is much increased by having a close biological relative who has the illness, but it is clear that more is involved than genetic factors.
It is, therefore, my wish to see the psychiatric profession become much more sensitized to the fact that emotional forces and pressures on developing children can have monumentally vital impacts, including the undoubtedly critical role in determining whether or not a given child (with specific genetic qualities) will ever become a psychiatric patient – or even a schizophrenic patient. Unfortunately, the book here reviewed offers no support along those desired lines. It is, however, a highly technical analysis of some of the critical genetic and other biological factors that operate where schizophrenia exists. For that, the book deserves credit.
Displaying 1 of 1 review