Which dopamine pathway is responsible for the positive symptoms of schizophrenia?
Mesolimbic pathway
Nigrostriatal pathway
Tuberoinfundibular pathway
Mesocortical pathway
The Correct Answer is A
A. Mesolimbic pathway is associated with reward, motivation, and emotions and is hyperactive in schizophrenia, leading to positive symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking. Antipsychotic medications work by blocking dopamine (D2) receptors in this pathway, reducing psychotic symptoms.
B. Nigrostriatal pathway controls motor function and coordination. Dopamine blockade in this pathway leads to extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) such as tremors, rigidity, and tardive dyskinesia, which are common side effects of first-generation antipsychotics (typical antipsychotics).
C. Tuberoinfundibular pathway regulates prolactin secretion. Dopamine inhibits prolactin release, so blocking D2 receptors with antipsychotics leads to increased prolactin levels, causing gynecomastia, galactorrhea, and menstrual irregularities.
D. Mesocortical pathway is responsible for cognition, motivation, and emotional regulation. In schizophrenia, this pathway is hypoactive, contributing to negative symptoms such as apathy, social withdrawal, and cognitive impairment.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Believes thoughts are being transmitted to others. This describes thought broadcasting, where individuals believe that their thoughts are being sent to others or that people can hear them without speaking. This is a distinct delusion seen in psychotic disorders like schizophrenia.
B. Believes thoughts are being controlled. This aligns with delusions of control, where a person believes that an external force is controlling their thoughts, feelings, or actions. This is different from thought withdrawal, which specifically involves thoughts being stolen.
C. Believes thoughts are taken out of someone's mind. Thought withdrawal delusions occur when a person believes that an outside force is removing thoughts from their mind. This delusion is common in schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, often associated with paranoid themes and cognitive disorganization.
D. Believes aliens are inserting thoughts in someone's brain. This describes thought insertion, where individuals believe that outside entities (e.g., aliens, the government) are implanting thoughts into their mind. While related, this differs from thought withdrawal, which involves the removal of thoughts rather than their insertion.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Lack of motivation. Avolition is a negative symptom of schizophrenia characterized by a severe lack of motivation to initiate and sustain goal-directed activities. Individuals with avolition struggle with completing daily tasks, such as hygiene, work, or social interactions, which significantly impairs their functioning.
B. No emotion. This describes flat affect, where individuals show reduced emotional expression in facial expressions, voice tone, and body language. Flat affect is a separate negative symptom of schizophrenia, distinct from avolition.
C. Inability to experience pleasure. This describes anhedonia, which refers to the inability to feel pleasure from previously enjoyable activities. Anhedonia is commonly seen in schizophrenia, major depressive disorder (MDD), and substance use disorders.
D. No empathy. Lack of empathy is more characteristic of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) or narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). While individuals with schizophrenia may struggle with social interactions, this is due to cognitive deficits rather than an absence of empathy.
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