Schizophrenia infection/inflammation-based?

[beeskneesmommy]

Hi - I have recently read in some posts (can't remember which forum) that d/t PANDAS, a door is opening to consideration/research regarding onset of Schizophrenia possibly being infection/imflammation based. I have a friend/colleague requesting info on this and since I have been out of the MH community professionally for several years now, wondered if perhaps any of you know of any links to info/research on this topic?

[PowPow]

Briefly, Dr Brian Fallon in NY is doing study on iv rocephin on adults. Also there is some info about in utero flu and schizo and also toxoplasmosis gondii. I think I have more info, I will look!

[momcap]

Sorry, I don't know the research you are referring to, but my PANDAS/lyme DS8 gets paranoid and self-talks when he's off antibiotics. When he has a really severe exacerbation it does seem somewhat schizo-like. I'm interested in hearing about those links if anyone posts them!

[Kiera]

It mentions something about this in the book "infectious behavior" which I'm trying to read presently but keep getting distracted by the internet:)

[EAMom]

Hi - I have recently read in some posts (can't remember which forum) that d/t PANDAS, a door is opening to consideration/research regarding onset of Schizophrenia possibly being infection/imflammation based. I have a friend/colleague requesting info on this and since I have been out of the MH community professionally for several years now, wondered if perhaps any of you know of any links to info/research on this topic?

 

have you seen the Discover article? http://discovermagazine.com/2010/jun/03-the-insanity-virus/article_view?b_start:int=0&-C=

 

In schizophrenia it may be that inflammation damages neurons indirectly by overstimulating them. “The neuron is discharging neurotransmitters, being excited by these inflammatory signals,” Perron says. “This is when you develop hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, and hyper-suicidal tendencies.”

 

and

 

The first, pivotal infection by toxoplasmosis or influenza (and subsequent flaring up of HERV-W) might happen shortly before or after birth. That would explain the birth-month effect: Flu infections happen more often in winter. The initial infection could then set off a lifelong pattern in which later infections reawaken HERV-W, causing more inflammation and eventually symptoms. This process explains why schizophrenics gradually lose brain tissue. It explains why the disease waxes and wanes like a chronic infection. And it could explain why some schizophrenics suffer their first psychosis after a mysterious, monolike illness.

 

and

 

Genes may come into play only in conjunction with certain environmental kicks. Our genome’s thousands of parasites might provide part of that kick.

 

“The ‘genes’ that can respond to environmental triggers or toxic pathogens are the dark side of the genome,” Perron says. Retroviruses, including HIV, are known to be awakened by inflammation—possibly the result of infection, cigarette smoke, or pollutants in drinking water. (This stress response may be written into these parasites’ basic evolutionary strategy, since stressed hosts may be more likely to spread or contract infections.) The era of writing off endogenous retroviruses and other seemingly inert parts of the genome as genetic fossils is drawing to an end, Perron says.

Edited February 10, 2012 by EAMom

[boychildsmom]

This 2005 article addresses and cites research on inflammation and links between strep/SC/RF and schizophrenia--

 

Theories of schizophrenia: a genetic-inflammatory-vascular synthesis

Daniel R Hanson1 and Irving I Gottesman2

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC554096/

 

 

Excerpt:

 

"Sydenham chorea is the best-known neuropsychiatric complication following streptococcal pharyngitis. The association of psychoses and Sydenham chorea as well as with RF even in the absence of chorea, was discussed in the 17th and 18th centuries starting with Sydenham himself (see [186]). The interest in psychoses associated with RF continued throughout the 1900's [187-197]. People with a history of Sydenham chorea and/or rheumatic fever are at high risk for developing psychopathology later in life [198,199] with a relative risk for schizophrenia as high as 8.9 in a 10 year follow-up of 29 Sydenham patients [200]. There is a suggestion that the family members of Sydenham patients are also at higher risk for psychosis [201]. During the 1940's-1960's when RF was still quite prevalent, people with psychoses appeared to have higher than expected rates of histories of RHD or RF)[195,202,203] or rheumatic chorea [204]. Psychotic patients with RHD more often had early (<age 19) onset, movement disorders, progressively insidious courses and poor long-term outcomes [203]. Preliminary data from a Minnesota study also finds increased rates of RHD in psychotic patients, a pattern of increased psychiatric hospitalization following an epidemic of RF, and a clinical course for "rheumatic psychoses" that disproportionately led to a severe and continuous decline in function [205]. Although schizophrenia-like psychoses were the most common psychopathology related to rheumatic syndromes, manic-depressive, involutional, and senile psychoses were also observed [183,197]."

[LaurenK]

This 2005 article addresses and cites research on inflammation and links between strep/SC/RF and schizophrenia--

 

Theories of schizophrenia: a genetic-inflammatory-vascular synthesis

Daniel R Hanson1 and Irving I Gottesman2

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC554096/

 

 

Excerpt:

 

"Sydenham chorea is the best-known neuropsychiatric complication following streptococcal pharyngitis. The association of psychoses and Sydenham chorea as well as with RF even in the absence of chorea, was discussed in the 17th and 18th centuries starting with Sydenham himself (see [186]). The interest in psychoses associated with RF continued throughout the 1900's [187-197]. People with a history of Sydenham chorea and/or rheumatic fever are at high risk for developing psychopathology later in life [198,199] with a relative risk for schizophrenia as high as 8.9 in a 10 year follow-up of 29 Sydenham patients [200]. There is a suggestion that the family members of Sydenham patients are also at higher risk for psychosis [201]. During the 1940's-1960's when RF was still quite prevalent, people with psychoses appeared to have higher than expected rates of histories of RHD or RF)[195,202,203] or rheumatic chorea [204]. Psychotic patients with RHD more often had early (<age 19) onset, movement disorders, progressively insidious courses and poor long-term outcomes [203]. Preliminary data from a Minnesota study also finds increased rates of RHD in psychotic patients, a pattern of increased psychiatric hospitalization following an epidemic of RF, and a clinical course for "rheumatic psychoses" that disproportionately led to a severe and continuous decline in function [205]. Although schizophrenia-like psychoses were the most common psychopathology related to rheumatic syndromes, manic-depressive, involutional, and senile psychoses were also observed [183,197]."

 

I think it's extremely important to take into account which articles you post here. This article is 6 years old! Medicine changes drastically in 6 years and so do the tools available to treat the illnesses. Every disease is a combination of genetic, environmental and infectious triggers. There will always be inflammation. Examples are quoted here from the 1940s!! Clearly the outcome will not be as good as it is now.

[Megs_Mom]

I found this one interesting. But can't find the follow-up research you'd expect in 2 years. So I'd suggest that it's simply a "directional" study that will be interesting to follow in future research. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090311085151.htm.

[beeskneesmommy]

This 2005 article addresses and cites research on inflammation and links between strep/SC/RF and schizophrenia--

 

Theories of schizophrenia: a genetic-inflammatory-vascular synthesis

Daniel R Hanson1 and Irving I Gottesman2

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC554096/

 

 

Excerpt:

 

"Sydenham chorea is the best-known neuropsychiatric complication following streptococcal pharyngitis. The association of psychoses and Sydenham chorea as well as with RF even in the absence of chorea, was discussed in the 17th and 18th centuries starting with Sydenham himself (see [186]). The interest in psychoses associated with RF continued throughout the 1900's [187-197]. People with a history of Sydenham chorea and/or rheumatic fever are at high risk for developing psychopathology later in life [198,199] with a relative risk for schizophrenia as high as 8.9 in a 10 year follow-up of 29 Sydenham patients [200]. There is a suggestion that the family members of Sydenham patients are also at higher risk for psychosis [201]. During the 1940's-1960's when RF was still quite prevalent, people with psychoses appeared to have higher than expected rates of histories of RHD or RF)[195,202,203] or rheumatic chorea [204]. Psychotic patients with RHD more often had early (<age 19) onset, movement disorders, progressively insidious courses and poor long-term outcomes [203]. Preliminary data from a Minnesota study also finds increased rates of RHD in psychotic patients, a pattern of increased psychiatric hospitalization following an epidemic of RF, and a clinical course for "rheumatic psychoses" that disproportionately led to a severe and continuous decline in function [205]. Although schizophrenia-like psychoses were the most common psychopathology related to rheumatic syndromes, manic-depressive, involutional, and senile psychoses were also observed [183,197]."

 

I think it's extremely important to take into account which articles you post here. This article is 6 years old! Medicine changes drastically in 6 years and so do the tools available to treat the illnesses. Every disease is a combination of genetic, environmental and infectious triggers. There will always be inflammation. Examples are quoted here from the 1940s!! Clearly the outcome will not be as good as it is now.

[beeskneesmommy]

I found this to be disturbing, to say the least. I had not, in my many years of practice, heard of the connection between psychosis later in life and RF and SC. I question the viability of this research, but I appreciate all of the responses. My colleague is most interested in debunking the Schizophrenia dx of this particular client, who had sudden onset psychosis. I suspect that, since the client has reached adulthood, Schizophrenia may be correct. However, since it was sudden onset (over night) with seemingly no preceeding symptomology that would lead into psychosis, there is valid reason for suspicion that it mat be related to infectioin. Thank you for your relpies and ideas.

[momcap]

Did you see the video recently posted on the Facebook page for "P.A.N.D.A.S. - P.I.T.A.N.D. (P.A.N.S.) Awareness Ribbon & Research Support"? The daughter talks about some of her symptoms, and the mom says they were symptoms people would look at and sometimes think of schizophrenia. I wonder how many PANDAS parents would say their child's symptoms sometimes resembled schizophrenia?

 

[LaurenK]

To go back to the article, it was probably just PANDAS that those people in the study were experiencing. Think about it, each time you're exposed to an illness with PANDAS, symptoms come back. People here have already stated that their children experienced hallucinations etc. In the 1940's and 50's doctors probably had no clue to start antibiotics, IVIG or PEX in order to stop a flare. Symptoms probably just kept adding on. Imagine getting diagnosed with PANDAS as a child and in between ages lets say 9- 60 you have about 40 infections- colds etc. Each infection makes the autoimmune response worse and worse. It wouldn't shock me that by late adult hood it looks like psychosis.

Edited February 12, 2012 by LaurenK

[EAMom]

Hi - I have recently read in some posts (can't remember which forum) that d/t PANDAS, a door is opening to consideration/research regarding onset of Schizophrenia possibly being infection/imflammation based. I have a friend/colleague requesting info on this and since I have been out of the MH community professionally for several years now, wondered if perhaps any of you know of any links to info/research on this topic?

 

Have you seen this article on toxoplasmosis?

 

How Your Cat Is Making You Crazy

 

 

Jaroslav Flegr is no kook. And yet, for years, he suspected his mind had been taken over by parasites that had invaded his brain. So the prolific biologist took his science-fiction hunch into the lab. What he’s now discovering will startle you. Could tiny organisms carried by house cats be creeping into our brains, causing everything from car wrecks to schizophrenia?

 

 

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/03/how-your-cat-is-making-you-crazy/8873/2/?single_page=true

 

here's one quote from the article that I found interesting

 

"Humans, on the other hand, are exposed not only by coming into contact with litter boxes, but also, he found, by drinking water contaminated with cat feces, eating unwashed vegetables, or, especially in Europe, by consuming raw or undercooked meat. Hence the French, according to Flegr, with their love of steak prepared saignant—literally, “bleeding”—can have infection rates as high as 55 percent. (Americans will be happy to hear that the parasite resides in far fewer of them, though a still substantial portion: 10 to 20 percent.) "

Edited February 16, 2012 by EAMom

[nicklemama]

That was an interesting article.

[EAMom]

That was an interesting article.

 

Yup. And it explains why I don't wear fancy clothes! (They tested me in 2002 when I was pregnant with my 2nd dd and I was neg.)