The Glutamate Hypothesis in Schizophrenia: Multimodal Insights into Cognitive and Molecular Dysregulation in Ultra-Treatment-Resistance

This thesis focuses on how changes in key brain chemicals (e.g. glutamate) are linked to schizophrenia and its most severe forms. By reviewing existing studies, analysing brain chemistry data, and combining findings across an extensive range of investigations, this research provides evidence for changes across brain region, stages of illness, and treatment exposure. The results suggest a dynamic process that evolves overtime and is shaped by medication, rather than a single abnormality. The thesis also shows how differences in research methods can strongly influence results, helping explain explaining inconsistent findings and offering clearer direction for future research and treatment development.