NURS 6501 PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS MODULE 6

 NURS 6501 PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS MODULE 6

Genetics has been identified to play a role in the development of schizophrenia. The existing evidence shows that the risk of a person developing schizophrenia 0.5-1%. The risk increases significantly among people that are born to families with a history of this disorder. The risk is largely attributed to factors such as heritability where schizophrenia has been shown to have a heritability rate of 0.8. Evidence from twin-studies also support the heritability pattern of schizophrenia. Most twin-studies agree that schizophrenia has up to 81% heritability rate in the population(Trifu et al., 2020). Therefore, a genetic relationship with a person with schizophrenia increases the risk of the disorder. 

            The role of genetics in schizophrenia is also evident in linkage studies. Linkage studies have shown that genetic traits that are closely associated tend to have a high risk of being inherited together as compared to distantly related traits. The relationship is attributable to gene translocation, which contributes to psychopathology in mental health. Studies have also identified individual genes that are implicated in the development of schizophrenia. A high association rate between schizophrenia and chromosome 13q32-34, 22q11, and homozygous deletion of 22q11 locus has been identified in some studies. In addition, genes involved in glutamatergic transmission and polymorphism of the PRODH genes have been linked with the development of schizophrenia. Mutations involving PRODH genes affect the regulation of dopamine and functioning of the glutamatergic synapses in the frontal cortex. These changes increase the risk of schizophrenia. The additional genes that contribute to schizophrenia include ZDHHC8, rs175174, COMT, and Neurolregulin 1 genes(Trifu et al., 2020). These genes have a high rate of inheritability, hence, the risk in relatives.  

  References 

Trifu, S. C., Kohn, B., Vlasie, A., &Patrichi, B.-E. (2020). Genetics of schizophrenia (Review). Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 20(4), 3462–3468. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2020.8973