Schizophrenia and the implications
of biotechnologies
Schizophrenia, as a genetic factor, has a strong
hereditary component. Individuals with a firstdegree relative diagnosed with schizophrenia have
a 10 percent chance of developing the disorder.
By Yriel Monato
As the years progress, new and improved
medicines and biotechnologies have been
introduced and applauded by scientific
organizations in sheer hope that these new
innovations will create medicine and new cures for
the sick and ill. As western society flourished in
new technologies, developing countries don’t
necessarily have the same type of medicine as they
do. Could it be that they don’t have enough
resources or financial support to build these types
of technologies? Or could it be that their cultural
view on certain illness does not call for one, not
because this certain illness can be cured with
shaman practices, but because they simply don’t
see it as an illness. Schizophrenia, as the western
society sees it, is a form of psychosis
characterized by symptoms such as disordered
thoughts, hallucinations, delusions and social
withdrawal (Teenage Brain: Culture and Schizophrenia).
If you are schizophrenic, then as western society
sees it, you are sick and you need to be treated.
But somewhere in the non-western medical
systems you’ve been attacked by an evil sprit,
cursed by a witch or reincarnated into a Hindu
God. Every culture views on schizophrenia are
interpreted differently, but what is so unique
about each approach is the symbolic
representation of their society.
Abnormalities within the brain structure play a huge role in
Schizophrenia (Mueser and McGurk).
In comparison to a normal brain, a schizophrenic
brain’s ventricles are enlarged indicating a deficit
in the volume of brain tissue. There is also
evidence of abnormally low activity in the frontal
lobe, the area of the brain responsible for
planning, reasoning, and decision-making. The
levels of dopamine and glutamate being out of
balance are also a primary causation (Mueser and
McGurk). Prescription drugs are used to reduce
symptoms
such
as
abnormal
thinking,
hallucinations and delusions, by blocking certain
brain chemicals. Schizophrenic patients also go
through counseling. In Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy, patients learn to test the reality of their
thoughts and better manage symptoms