Schizophrenia is a clinical syndrome of variable, but profoundly disruptive, psychopathology that involves cognition, emotion, perception, and other aspects of behavior. The disorder usu-ally begins before age 25, persists throughout life, and affects persons of all social classes. In the United States, the lifetime prevalence of schizophrenia is about 1 percent, which means that about 1 person in 100 will develop schizophrenia during their lifetime. The prevalence of schizophrenia in India is 2.5/1000 as reported by Ganguli in 2000 and 2.7/1000 by Reddy et al. in 1998.
A growing body of evidence suggests that peripheral activities of antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation are abnormal in schizophrenic subjects. Mahadik found increased lipid pe-roxidation products and altered defence system in both chronic and drug-naive first episode schizophrenics. The accumulated results indicate that oxidative stress is integral to this disease and not the result of neuroleptic treatment.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Review of literature
3. Material & methods
4. Observation
5. Discussion
6. Summary & conclusion
7. Bibliography
8. Annexure
Research Objectives and Focus
The primary objective of this thesis is to investigate the status of oxidative stress and the activity levels of key antioxidant enzymes in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia compared to healthy individuals. The research explores the intricate link between biological markers and psychological stressors, seeking to determine if these disturbances are integral to the disease pathology.
- Measurement of oxidative stress markers like Malondialdehyde (MDA).
- Assessment of antioxidant enzyme levels including Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX).
- Evaluation of the relationship between sociodemographic characteristics and oxidative status.
- Correlation between stressful life events and the severity of schizophrenic symptoms.
- Investigation of potential links between PANNS scores and oxidative stress levels.
Excerpt from the Book
Oxidative stress
An imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants in favour of the oxidants, potentially leading to damage, is termed 'oxidative stress' (Sies,1985,1986). Oxidants are formed as a normal product of aerobic metabolism but can be produced at elevated rates under pathophysiological conditions. A quasi-steady state is maintained by an intricate pattern of antioxidants. The antioxidaint defense is, in part, calpable of adapting to chalenging needs.
Molecular oxygen can be reduced to water. The intermediate steps of oxygen reduction are the formation of the superoxide anion radical, hydrogen peroxide and the hydroxyl radical, corresponding to the steps of reduction by one, two and three electrons, respectively. Further, ground state molecular(triplet)oxygen, as a diradical, can be electronically excited to singlet molecular oxygen. Oxygen radicals can occur as alkyl or peroxyl radicals, e.g. in lipids. Also, there is nitric oxide, one of the gasseous radicals of biological interest. Peroxynitrite, a non radical reactive species, is formed from the nitric oxide and superoxide anion radicals (sies,1991).
Oxidants are also generated by different types of radiation, with X-irradiation generating the hydroxyl radical and irradiation with ultraviolet light generating electronically excited states with subsequent radical formation. Ultrasound and microwave radiation can also generate reactive oxygen species. Even shear stress, e.g. in homogenization, is known to generate radicals.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the clinical definition of schizophrenia, the role of oxidative stress in its pathogenesis, and the study's primary objectives.
2. Review of literature: Provides a comprehensive overview of existing studies on schizophrenia, genetic and biochemical factors, and the role of oxidative stress in various neurological and psychiatric disorders.
3. Material & methods: Describes the study design, participant criteria, assessment tools (PANSS, PSLES), and the biochemical methods used to analyze blood samples.
4. Observation: Presents the raw data and results concerning the demographic profiles of patients and the comparison of oxidative markers between the study and control groups.
5. Discussion: Interprets the findings regarding the elevated oxidative stress and decreased antioxidant enzyme activity in schizophrenic patients in the context of neuro-biochemistry.
6. Summary & conclusion: Reconciles the findings with the initial hypothesis and emphasizes the importance of antioxidant support in treating schizophrenia.
7. Bibliography: Lists all academic sources and scientific references cited throughout the thesis.
8. Annexure: Includes the research proforma and rating criteria used during the evaluation process.
Key Keywords
Schizophrenia, Oxidative stress, Malondialdehyde, Superoxide dismutase, Glutathione peroxidase, Antioxidant enzymes, PANSS, Life events, Neurobiochemistry, Lipid peroxidation, Psychiatry, Free radicals, Psychopathology, Clinical trial, Antioxidant therapy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this thesis?
The thesis investigates the levels of oxidative stress and antioxidant enzymes in the blood of drug-naïve patients with schizophrenia compared to a control group of healthy individuals.
What are the primary themes examined?
The study focuses on redox homeostasis, lipid peroxidation, enzymatic defense mechanisms, and the impact of sociodemographic factors and life stressors on these physiological parameters.
What is the main research question?
The research asks whether oxidative stress is an integral component of schizophrenia and how it relates to clinical symptom severity and external life stressors.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The research employs clinical psychiatric interviews, the PANSS scale for symptom assessment, the PSLES for measuring life events, and spectrophotometric laboratory analysis for biochemical markers.
What is covered in the main body of the work?
The main body covers a detailed literature review, methodologies for blood sample analysis, comprehensive observations of oxidative markers in 50 patients, and a discussion of the neurobiological implications.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include Schizophrenia, Oxidative stress, Malondialdehyde (MDA), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), and antioxidant enzymes.
Does the study analyze the impact of geography on oxidative stress?
Yes, the study observes that the urban population included in the study exhibited higher levels of MDA, GPX, and SOD compared to the rural population.
Is there a correlation between PANSS scores and oxidative stress in this study?
The study found no statistically significant association between the PANSS score ranges and the measured levels of oxidative stress or antioxidant enzymes in the patient group.
Are stressful life events linked to these biomarkers?
While the study found that schizophrenic patients experienced more stressful life events within six months compared to controls, it did not find a significant direct correlation between the number of these events and the specific oxidative parameters measured.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Mohammed Reyazuddin (Autor:in), 2012, Oxidative Stress and the Level of Antioxidant Enzymes in Schizophrenia, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/913268
