Schizophrenia

Rh Incompatibility 

Why is it that boys are more likely to trigger an immunological rejection by the mother than girls? This was a question that came up in this week's reading assignment. It was stated that if a mother is Rh-negative and her a baby is Rh-positive, the baby's Rh-positive blood factor may trigger an immunological rejection by the mother. Thus babies born with Rh incompatibility have twice the possibility of having schizophrenia, however, it is more intense in boys than in girls-why is that?

What I learned from researching an answer to my question, is that the formation of schizophrenia could occur by interfering with the early stages of  brain development. One way it can be interfered is by Rh incompatibility. It is said that boys increase the risk of miscarriages, the linked article states that this is due to baby boys secreting proteins linked to the male Y chromosome. This can cause the mother's immune system to form antibodies to fight off the "invader". However, it mostly occurs when the mother is Rh-negative and the child Rh-positive.  In the United States Rh incompatibility has become uncommon, for it is preventable by treating the mother with RhoGAM (special immune globulins). 

So how does Rh incompatibiltiy lead to schizophrenia? Rh incompatibility causes destruction of red blood cells, which are the primary carriers of oxygen throughout the body, thus if there aren't enough blood cells, there is a deficit in oxygen. So schizophrenia could be caused by the brain not receiving enough oxygen during fetal development, thus key brain areas such as the hippocampus or the basal ganglia are not properly developed.  

Although there still needs to be more research on how Rh incompatibility can lead to schizophrenia, it is something that should be taken into consideration. Thus I believe it is important for pregnant women to take care of themselves not only emotionally, but physically as well. It is important to check if they carry the Rh factor and if they do to see if their child is compatible and if not to get treated right away to prevent further complications, such as the child developing schizophrenia. 

Mood Disorders

Not Enough Sunlight Can Be Depressing 

Living in a subtropical region, we hardly go through long winter months or even have "winter" down here. Our winters consist of sunny skies with temperature reaching as high in the one hundreds and  as low as fifty degrees Fahrenheit. So as I was reading this weeks section, I found it interesting to learn that people who live in areas that have long winter months, can suffer from seasonal affective disorder a.k.a SAD. These people suffer from depression during the winter months, but usually go away during summer and spring. This is mostly due to the seasonal variations of light.  Some symptoms include depression, anxiety, mood changes, sleep problems, lethargy, and social problems. There is also a milder form of SAD called the "Winter Blues". 
When seasons change, there is a shift in our biological clocks or circadian rhythm that can cause an increase of melatonin. Melatonin has been linked to SAD, especially since its production increases when the days are shorter and darker.  The video below goes into further detail of this disorder and its treatment, such as being exposed to bright fluorescent lights (around 10,000 watts) which is equivalent to a bright sunny day. Another treatment that can be used for those that have SAD, is to at least walk for an hour in winter sunlight since it has been found to be as effective as two and a half hours under bright artificial light. 

At first, I used to always complain how there is too much sun and that it was unbearable to live here, but after finding out about this disorder I am glad that I live in a  region that has a lot of sunlight. Although I am sure that there are still people that suffer from depression here, I wonder if SAD can affect us here during our "winter" months. 

Stress and Emotions

Violence - are we born with it or raised by it?

Turning on the TV to watch the evening news, there is hardly ever any good news to be reported. The main stories are mostly about a boyfriend who mistreated their girlfriend, a mother who was abusive towards her children, or of someone being brutally attacked. It makes one think about how these people are the way they are, what made them be so violent towards others? Were they raised in an environment where they were constantly exposed to violence, or was it something that was passed on to them through their genes? It turns out that it can be both. 

Interactions between our heredity and environment can have an influence on aggressive behavior. Studies have found that violence can be enhanced by a genetic predisposition such as, the differences in the production of monoamine oxidase A (MAO_A), along with being raised in a troubled environment. What is monoamine oxidase A? MAO_A is an enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, thus lowering the amounts available to the system. 

The relationship between this enzyme and childhood upbringing has been studied to see their effect on antisocial behavior. It has been reported that a low or high production of MAO_A does not differ significantly in their probability of antisocial behavior. However people who suffered serious maltreatment during childhood and had low levels of the enzyme, showed higher rates of antisocial behavior. 

Other than being able to be used a precursor for antisocial behavior, monoamine oxidases can also be targeted for treatment in people suffering from depression. The video below gives an explanation on how destroying MAO_A inhibitors can keep serotonin high in the system, with treated with antidepressant medication. Thus by inhibiting the enzyme, serotonin levels will be maintained at a fairly high level and the person's depression will be decreased.