Final answer:
The positive symptoms of schizophrenia are associated with overactive dopamine neurotransmission and can include hallucinations and delusions. These symptoms are treated with antipsychotic medications that block dopamine receptors, reducing dopamine's effects. Understanding SZ involves considering both genetic and environmental factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The positive symptoms of schizophrenia (SZ) can be explained as exaggerated or distorted normal functions that include hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking or speech. Positive symptoms are those that add to the person's normal behavior, in contrast to negative symptoms, which represent a loss of normal functions. These symptoms are thought to be associated with overactive dopamine neurotransmission in certain brain pathways.Antipsychotic medications are often used to treat these symptoms. They function as dopamine receptor antagonists, which means they block the effects of dopamine in the brain by occupying its receptors without activating them. This helps to reduce the overstimulation caused by excessive dopamine neurotransmission, alleviating symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions.The development of SZ is multifaceted and involves both genetic and environmental factors. There is evidence to suggest that malfunctioning dopaminergic neurons, which could lead to overactive dopamine transmission, play a role in SZ as do potential problems with glutamate signaling. A comprehensive understanding of SZ integrates both neurobiological and psycho-social aspects, considering how gene-environment interactions might contribute to the manifestation of the disorder.