Neurobiological Correlates of Schizophrenia and Implications for Psychotherapy

Abstract

The nature of schizophrenia makes it a complex mental disorder that is associated with severe problems in perception, emotion, behaviour and cognition. The neurological causes of this disorder were clarified with the help of recent decades in terms of molecular genetics, neurochemistry, neuroimaging. In conjunction with impairments in the functionality of corporal connections within the fronto-temporal and fronto-limbic loops, structural changes in the brain, such as the depletion of gray mass in the prefrontal premises and hippocampus, are often found. Neurochemical researches point to the problem that positive and negative symptomatology are both caused by the malfunction of the dopaminergic, glutamatergic, and GABAergic systems. Moreover, recent evidence also highlights the importance of oxidative stress and neuroinflammation as well as abnormal synaptic pruning in neurodevelopment as pathological processes. These discoveries will have an enormous effect on psychotherapy, which gradually incorporates neurobiological theories to achieve more accurate treatment. Cognitive remediation therapy, metacognitive training, and neurofeedback are some of the treatments used to improve functional recovery based on brain plasticity and cognitive deficits knowledge. Given the way neurobiology and psychosocial determinants interact, customized treatment preconditioned by the neurophysiological and experience aspects of the schizophrenic condition can be developed. Such a combined approach to the issue supports a better long-term recovery and the creation of a universal treatment plan as it relates clinical practice to the brain research.