Psychosis and Schizophrenia

The impact of our research

Psychosis and schizophrenia are not considered single illnesses, but complex syndromes with multiple causes. More research is needed to understand how these syndromes change the brain, so we can develop better diagnostic tools and treatments.

QIMR Berghofer researchers are analysing psychosis and mood disorders through a genetic lens to better understand the specific genes involved.

We’ve identified 10 key challenges that need to be overcome to improve patient care for those with mental health issues, including schizophrenia. This will allow us to translate recent genetic discoveries into better treatments.

We’re using neuroimaging, brain stimulation, and computational techniques to understand how the brain changes during psychosis.

We’re investigating anti-psychosis medications to test their effectiveness and see whether managing their side effects leads to better outcomes.

About psychosis and schizophrenia

What are psychosis and schizophrenia?

Psychosis is a syndrome in which people have difficulty determining what’s real and what’s not. This is due to their experience of false perceptions (hallucinations), false beliefs (delusions), and disorganised thinking. It affects approximately one in 30 people at some point in their life.

Schizophrenia is less prevalent and affects less than 1% of the population. It is a persistent psychotic disorder that lasts at least six months. It’s characterised by psychotic symptoms and is often accompanied by:

Mood swings, either depression or mania
poor memory
difficulty solving problems
low motivation
impaired social skills.

The psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia most commonly arise between the ages of 15 and 25. Many patients show subtle differences in speech, cognition and behaviour development, often from a very early age. For others, the onset is rapid and occurs without any indicators of risk.

What causes psychosis and schizophrenia?

The causes of psychosis and schizophrenia are highly variable. Some people are only minimally affected and completely recover with treatment, while others remain severely unwell despite comprehensive care.

For these reasons, it is recognised that psychosis and schizophrenia are not single illnesses but rather syndromes that have many causes. They require more specific therapies as the causes and the underlying changes in the brain become better understood.

Who’s most at risk of psychosis and schizophrenia?

Psychosis is caused by a complex interaction between the environment and genetic factors.

The exact causes of schizophrenia are not known, but genetics plays a role. People who have a family member with schizophrenia are more likely to develop the condition.

For those with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia, the first episode can be triggered by a number of factors, including stress, drugs, malnutrition, and exposure to violence and trauma.

What are the symptoms of psychosis and schizophrenia?

The symptoms of psychosis include:

confusion or confused thinking;
false beliefs or delusions;
hallucinations;
changing behaviours or feelings.

Not everyone with schizophrenia has every symptom and some symptoms appear for just a short time, or short ‘episodes’.

Schizophrenia symptoms include:

delusions;
hallucinations;
social withdrawal;
lack of motivation;
inappropriate responses;
impaired thinking and memory;
lack of insight.

Psychosis and schizophrenia in Australia

Approximately five in every 1,000 Australians will experience a psychotic episode at some point during their life.

Schizophrenia is less common and affects approximately 2.4 people per 1,000 Australians. It’s more prevalent in men than women.

How are psychosis and schizophrenia treated?

Current treatments available for psychosis can relieve or even eliminate symptoms. These include:

anti-psychotic medication
psychological therapies including cognitive behaviour therapy, counselling, and psychotherapy
community support programs
lifestyle changes including improving health and sleep, and avoiding drugs and alcohol.

Treatments for schizophrenia include medication, hospital care, and rehabilitation. While antipsychotic drugs can help stabilise symptoms, they do not cure the condition and are associated with side effects. Hospital admission is only necessary during crises. Once symptoms subside, people can return to regular life.

Facts about psychosis and schizophrenia

Impact

Psychosis impacts a person’s sense of what’s real and what’s not.

Key symptoms

False beliefs and hallucinations are key symptoms of schizophrenia.

Full life

It’s possible to live a full and meaningful life with psychosis or schizophrenia.

Our psychosis and schizophrenia research

Genetic Epidemiology

This laboratory, led by Professor Nick Martin, seeks to identify the particular genes involved in complex disease causes. Over recent years, the team has focused on using genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to locate genes influencing complex traits including anxiety, alcoholism, and dizygotic twinning.

“We’re investigating the genetic risk factors of cannabis use. We haven’t found a strong causal link between cannabis and schizophrenia, but we have found that people genetically predisposed to schizophrenia are more likely to use cannabis, possibly as a form of self-medication. More research is required to better understand this relationship.”

Professor Nick Martin

Psychiatric Genetics

This group, led by Professor Sarah Medland, focuses on investigating the genetic and environmental factors that influence mental health conditions and the impact of non-psychiatric conditions on mental health across the lifespan. The group also has a strong focus on the genetics of brain structure and on women’s health.

“Bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are two distinct conditions that share similar symptoms. We’re investigating the genetic factors that contribute to the shared symptoms with the goal of improving diagnosis and treatment.”

Professor Sarah Medland

Clinical Brain Networks

This group, led by Associate Professor Luca Cocchi, focuses on understanding how the structural and functional wiring of the brain underpins health and pathology. The laboratory uses a variety of neuroimaging, brain stimulation, and computational techniques to understanding the neural mechanisms causing changes in brain networks’ anatomy and activity in psychosis.

"We know that how people recover from a psychotic episode plays a key role in their social and work outcomes. We’re using functional Magnetic Resonance Imagery (fMRI) to understand the neural markers that show the trajectory of recovery.”

Associate Professor Luca Cocchi

Child and Youth Mental Health

The Child and Youth Mental Health Research Group, led by Professor James Scott, researches the causes and consequences of mental ill-health and suicidal behaviour in children and young people.

Professor Scott is also the Director of the Early Psychosis Service in the Metro North Mental Health Service.

“We’re investigating not just how effective anti-psychosis medications are, but how people tolerate them, and if managing the side effects better can lead to improved treatment outcomes.”

Professor James Scott

Translational Neurogenomics

The Translational Neurogenomics lab identified genes that are associated psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. Our research aims to use the results from genetic studies to identify more effective treatment for psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia.