Researchers have found some genetic similarities between sufferers of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder which could assist pharmaceutical companies in developing new, more effective drugs. The two disorders are often considered as totally separate but there are often similarities between the two conditions eg some schizophrenics have mood disorders and some bipolar sufferers have psychotic episodes. As a result, some schizophrenics require treatment with manic depression treatment and some bipolar sufferers are given antipsychotic drugs. Researchers claim to have found the biological link between the disease in the form of a molecular trigger that is triggered by stress. Patients of both disease have high levels of the enzyme protein kinase C and drug treatments of both conditions focus on reducing this level. Stress seemed to be linked to increased levels of this enzyme.
Source: summary of medical news story as reported by Orlando Sentinel
About: Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder have more in common than first though
Date: 21 December 2004
Source: Orlando Sentinel
Author: William Hathaway
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