Schizophrenia News and Research

Latest Schizophrenia News and Research

Caterpillar fungi may benefit asthma patients

Research shows that cordycepin, extracted from a group of rare parasitic caterpillar fungi of the genus Cordyceps, has unusual anti-inflammatory properties that may make it a good candidate for treating conditions such as asthma and rheumatoid arthritis.

16 Nov 2012

Obstetric complications linked to NSS in schizophrenia

Patients with schizophrenia whose mothers experienced obstetric complications during pregnancy show more neurologic soft signs than those with mothers who did not experience such complications, researchers report.

16 Nov 2012

Study links congenital kidney disease with neurodevelopmental disorders

About 10 percent of kids born with kidney defects have large alterations in their genomes known to be linked with neurodevelopmental delay and mental illness, a new study by Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) researchers has shown.

16 Nov 2012

White matter alterations evident before psychosis development

Results from a UK study show that white matter integrity is reduced in patients at ultra-high risk for psychosis, although to a lesser extent than in first-episode psychosis patients.

15 Nov 2012

Cannabis withdrawal clinically significant in schizophrenia

Cannabis withdrawal symptoms are clinically significant in schizophrenia patients as they are often associated with behavioral change, say researchers.

15 Nov 2012

AKT1 genotype influences risk of psychotic disorders in cannabis users

The ability of cannabis to produce psychosis has long been an important public health concern. This concern is growing in importance as there is emerging data that cannabis exposure during adolescence may increase the risk of developing schizophrenia, a serious psychotic disorder. Further, with the advent of medical marijuana, a new group of people with uncertain psychosis risk may be exposed to cannabis.

15 Nov 2012

Irregular sleep patterns may trigger schizophrenia symptoms

Neuroscientists studying the link between poor sleep and schizophrenia have found that irregular sleep patterns and desynchronised brain activity during sleep could trigger some of the disease's symptoms. The findings, published in the journal Neuron, suggest that these prolonged disturbances might be a cause and not just a consequence of the disorder's debilitating effects.

15 Nov 2012

Pathway between maternal obesity and childhood asthma nonallergic

Maternal pre-pregnancy bodyweight is associated with the risk for children developing asthma and wheezing by the age of 7 years, Danish research shows.

13 Nov 2012

White matter alterations evident before psychosis development

Results from a UK study show that white matter integrity is reduced in patients at ultra-high risk for psychosis, although to a lesser extent than in first-episode psychosis patients.

13 Nov 2012

Caution over monoclonal antibody treatment for MS

Alemtuzumab, an anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody, provides a more effective treatment for individuals with relapsing‑remitting multiple sclerosis than the immunomodulating drug interferon beta 1a, but has significant side effects, show findings from a phase III trial.

12 Nov 2012

Overcleanliness in childhood may increase risk for peanut allergy

An increased incidence of peanut allergy in children from more wealthy families supports the “hygiene hypothesis” that overcleanliness may promote the onset of childhood allergies, say US researchers.

9 Nov 2012

Metabolic syndrome linked to poorer cognition in schizophrenia

Schizophrenia patients with the metabolic syndrome have poorer cognitive functioning than those without, results from a US study show.

9 Nov 2012

Family history of schizophrenia ups risk for nonpsychotic disorders

Individuals with a family history of schizophrenia are at a significantly increased risk for a wide range of nonpsychotic DSM-IV axis I psychiatric disorders, US research shows.

8 Nov 2012

Exercise benefits physical, mental health in schizophrenia

Exercise therapy improves mental health and cardiovascular fitness in patients with schizophrenia, researchers report.

8 Nov 2012

Family history of schizophrenia ups risk for nonpsychotic disorders

Individuals with a family history of schizophrenia are at a significantly increased risk for a wide range of nonpsychotic DSM-IV axis I psychiatric disorders, US research shows.

8 Nov 2012

Toxoplasmosis linked to greater schizophrenia severity

Schizophrenia patients infected with Toxoplasma gondii have more severe symptomatology than those without the infection, researchers report.

6 Nov 2012

Chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome anxiety linked to poorer adaptive behaviors

UC Davis researchers have found that for children with the genetic disorder known as chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome anxiety -- but not intelligence -- is linked to poorer adaptive behaviors, such as self-care and communication skills, that affect daily life. The developmental syndrome, which is associated with a constellation of physical, cognitive and psychiatric problems, usually is apparent at birth or early childhood, and leads to lifelong challenges.

6 Nov 2012