Short-term memory in schizophrenia patients can be improved with mild stimulation of the brain with electric current. The procedure, known as transcranial direct current stimulation, involves placing sponge-covered electrodes on the head and passing a weak electrical current between them.
"Cognitive impairment is as ubiquitous as hallucinations in schizophrenia, yet medications only treat the hallucinations. So, even with medication, affected individuals often remain very disabled," said David Schretlen, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by symptoms of thought, behavior and social problems.
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The transcranial direct current stimulation could give people with schizophrenia, a shot at leading a more normal life. "What's nice about transcranial direct current stimulation is that it's so benign. There are no bad side effects. If it enables people with schizophrenia to think more clearly, it would make a huge contribution to the treatment of this devastating illness," Schretlen said.
The team targeted a brain region called the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which plays an important role in short-term or working memory and is abnormal in people with schizophrenia.
![Mental Health - Neurosis vs Psychosis]( "Mental Health - Neurosis vs Psychosis")
Mental well-being is a concern and abnormal coping of emotions can lead to neurosis or psychosis. Mental illnesses can range from depression, anxiety, phobias to schizophrenia and affective disorders.
For the study, 11 participants were recruited: five adults with confirmed schizophrenia and six of their close relatives. Each received two 30-minute treatments and the other using a positive charge as a control.
"On tests of verbal and visual working memory, participants performed significantly better after receiving a negative charge, and the effects were 'surprisingly strong'," said Schretlen.
Schretlen also tested participants' verbal fluency, or word retrieval, during the treatment. "The stimulation was associated with better performance on working memory and subtle changes in word retrieval," Schretlen concluded.
Source: Medindia
Mental Health - Neurosis vs Psychosis
Mental well-being is a concern and abnormal coping of emotions can lead to neurosis or psychosis. Mental illnesses can range from depression, anxiety, phobias to schizophrenia and affective disorders.
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For the study, 11 participants were recruited: five adults with confirmed schizophrenia and six of their close relatives. Each received two 30-minute treatments and the other using a positive charge as a control.
"On tests of verbal and visual working memory, participants performed significantly better after receiving a negative charge, and the effects were 'surprisingly strong'," said Schretlen.
Schretlen also tested participants' verbal fluency, or word retrieval, during the treatment. "The stimulation was associated with better performance on working memory and subtle changes in word retrieval," Schretlen concluded.
Source: Medindia
Schizophrenia is a Cluster of Eight Diseases - Significant Breakthrough
Schizophrenia is not a single disease caused by one gene as previously thought, but a group of eight distinct genetic disorders, each with its own set of symptoms.
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Antipsychotic Drugs and Relapsing SchizophreniaSchizophrenia is a chronic distressing and debilitating ailment. About 80% of the patients report recurrence within 5 years. Antipsychotic drugs are effective in keeping a check on this recurrence. | Advertisement
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