Schizophrenia is a severe and disabling illness and one of the most stigmatized psychiatric illnesses. The exact cause is unknown, but it is likely to be the end result of a complex interaction between genetic, biochemical, developmental and environmental factors. The illness has an enormous impact on the individual and his/her family.
Schizophrenia typically appears in late adolescence or early adulthood and follows a life-long course. There is a misconception that people diagnosed with schizophrenia are violent and dangerous. It is usually necessary to admit the patient to a psychiatric unit during an acute episode. The illness is treated with medication and psycho-educational programs may also have a positive effect on the long-term outcome of the illness. There are indications that the longer the duration of untreated psychosis, the poorer the long-term outcome.
The highest risk of relapse is closest to the onset of the illness and the most common cause of relapse is discontinuation of medication. Side-effects of the medication may be one of the reasons, but also the type of support system the patient has.
Bantu Zotwana of Welgelegen has written a book about his experience with schizophrenia. He has a passion for creating awareness about the illness and hopes that his story can bring hope to thousands of people having to deal with schizophrenia. Many people are hesitant to talk about their illness or to approach mental health professionals for help. This causes a lot of unnecessary suffering. This is why Mr Zotwana’s openness about his illness is so important. He maintains that he is not ‘suffering from’ schizophrenia, but is ‘living with’ schizophrenia. He made a decision to live his life and not to be miserable about his illness. He manages his life successfully by living a well-balanced life and taking his medication regularly. He believes that casual drug use in his youth contributed to triggering his schizophrenia.
Position for a postdoctoral fellow at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University
A postdoctoral position is available at the MRC Unit on Anxiety & Stress Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, at the Faculty of Health Sciences of Stellenbosch University (SU). The position involves work on a collaborative psychiatric genetics and brain imaging project between this Unit, the Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, and the Cape Universities Brain Imaging Centre (CUBIC).
The project entails an imaging-genetics-environment paradigm investigating the impact of (the interaction between) selected genes in the glutamatergic system (e.g. GRIN2B), BDNF and SAPAP3 – (which may have an impact on white matter integrity and/or interact with this system), and childhood trauma, on white matter volume in regions of interest in healthy controls, and patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or hair-pulling disorder (trichotillomania, or HPD). Ultimately, this project will render an opportunity for the candidate to collaborate with experts in psychodiagnostic interviewing, genetics and neuroimaging, and related statistics, on a project aiming to relate imaging findings not only to genes and their expression, but also to environmental influences which may be related to such processes, to further our understanding of the brain.
Depending on his/her academic background and experience, the candidate will perform the activities related to all aspects of the study (i.e. clinical / genetics / brain imaging).
The Faculty of Health Sciences is situated 20 minutes’ drive from central Cape Town and 30 minutes from Stellenbosch campus. Tygerberg and its surrounding areas offer excellent quality of life and easy access to the city and the countryside. This area is well-known for its beautiful mountains, beaches, and winelands.
Applicants should have a PhD-degree and a strong background in psychiatry, molecular biology and/or brain imaging. Previous experience of patient assessment and/or genotyping and gene expression in humans and/or brain imaging is essential.
For more information, please contact Prof Christine Lochner on 021 – 938 9179 / email: cl2@sun.ac.za or Dr Nathaniel McGregor (email: nwm@sun.ac.za) or Dr Samantha Brooks (drsamanthabrooks@gmail.com).
To apply, send a covering letter, a CV containing details of previous courses and associated grades and the email addresses of 3 referees to the above addresses.
Posisie as na-doktorale navorsingsgenoot by die Fakulteit van Geneeskunde en Gesondheidswetenskappe, Stellenbosch Universiteit
‘n Posisie as na-doktorale navorsingsgenoot is by die MNR Eenheid vir Angs- en Stressteurings, Departement van Psigiatrie, Fakulteit van Geneeskunde en Gesondheidswetenskappe, Stellenbosch Universiteit, beskikbaar.
Aansoekers moet ‘n PhD-graad en ‘n sterk agtergrond in psigiatrie, molekulêre biologie en/of breinbeelding hê. Vorige ondervinding van pasiënt-assessering en/of genotipering en geen-uitdrukking in mense en/of breinbeelding is noodsaaklik.
Vir meer inligting, kontak asb Prof Christine Lochner by 021 – 938 9179 / epos: cl2@sun.ac.za of Dr Nathaniel McGregor (email: nwm@sun.ac.za) of Dr Samantha Brooks (drsamanthabrooks@gmail.com).
Om aansoek te doen, stuur ‘n dekbrief, ‘n CV met inligting oor vorige kursusse en geassosieërde grade en die epos-adresse van 3 referente na die bogenoemde adresse.
