Posted by Squiggles on September 24, 2006, at 8:13:38 [reposted on September 25, 2006, at 0:09:11 | original URL]
In reply to Re: the brain » Phillipa, posted by alexandra_k on September 24, 2006, at 2:32:54
.........
> So there is a significant problem with saying that abnormal brains cause schizophrenic behaviours / symptoms. The problem is that the majority of people with schizophrenia have normal brains (which is to say brains that fall within the range of normality and their brains can't be differentiated from people without mental illness).
I'm not sure that what they are saying is
abnormal brains *cause* schizophrenic symptoms.
Just as in cases of stroke, after recognizing
a familiar pattern of behaviour (waddling,
one-sided paralysis, etc.), an MRI correlates
those symptoms with what is seen in the brain--
usually a large area of bleeding. To that,
blood tests may be given to corroborate the
dx. Maybe, that is what you mean by multi-dimenisonal?
>
> Though things are more complicated...
>
> More dopamine receptors on autopsy. But once again... *Some* people with schizophrenia not *all* and how many people without schizophrenia have more dopamine receptors on autopsy?It sounds to me like this dopamine exam upon
autopsy is an experimental phase of examination into people who have had hallucinations and
anxiety, and paranoia in their life--who may have beein diagnosed as schizophrenic in their life. I don't think it is a diagnostic endeavour.And btw, did you know that though Kraepelin recognized bipolar disorder as a definite, definable illness, he was sceptical about schizophrenia and speculated about its being in the class of severe anxiety; Most people just call him the father of making a distinction between bp and schizophrenia, and if you read his "Manic Depression Illness and Paranoia"-- it ain't so.
>
> Perhaps the neuroimaging isn't detailed enough... Or perhaps sctuctural / neuro-transmission abnormalities aren't necessary or sufficient for schizophrenia... Or perhaps... Schizophrenia isn't a natural kind."Natural kind" -- sounds like Wittgenstein on
a field trip; what kind of kind is that:=)?
Squiggles
poster:Squiggles
thread:688931
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20060922/msgs/688962.html