No one really knows how schizophrenia is caused, but it can be seen that both environmental and genetic risks are factors in the development. The environment risks are the over use of marijuana, (add more thingy’s). The genetic risks of schizophrenia are the issues within growth during a pregnancy, brain chemistry and structure, passing of the schizophrenic gene from one generation to the next generation, (more thingy’s). As you can see in figure one both environmental and genetic factors work together in this unfortunate development.
Many researchers believe it to be a combination of factors such as brain chemistry, genetics, and various environmental factors. Neuroimaging studies have shown differences in the brain structure and central nervous system of people with schizophrenia. While researchers aren't certain about the significance of these changes, they indicate that schizophrenia is a brain disease. (Mayo Clinic Healthy Living, October 11, 2012) Also, people who have problems with certain naturally occurring brain chemicals- including some neurotransmitters called dopamine and glutamate- have a higher risk of contracting schizophrenia. Other factors that may increase the risk of a person developing schizophrenia is having a family history of the disorder, pregnancy complications, taking certain psychoactive drugs, and exposure to neurotoxins at a young
Schizophrenia however, does not have a cause except for the fact that it may be hereditary (run in the family) or can be a chemical imbalance in the victim's brain the mental illness affects the normal functioning of the brain and changes the affected person in the way that they feel and think.
Stress that is caused by a traumatic event or family situations may be a trigger, which can cause this disorder to surface in those who possess a genetic predisposition. Another trigger that may play a major part is an imbalance of dopamine and serotonin, which are located in the brain. The behavioral patterns that are associated with schizophrenia are thought to result from an over activity of dopamine within certain areas of the brain. The areas of the brain that are affected by this disorder are the forebrain, hindbrain, and limbic system (The Lundbeck Institute, 2002-2005).
What is schizophrenia? Not every person with schizophrenia will have all symptoms, and the symptoms of schizophrenia may change over time.” (Schizophrenia: Sings, Types & Causes, Authors: Melinda Smith, M.A., and Jeanne Segal, Ph. D., Last Update February 2014, http://www.helpguide.org/mental/schizophrenia_symptom.htm) It is believed that no one single gene causes schizophrenia it is said that more than one gene is the cause of increased risk of schizophrenia there is a greater risk of a child developing it. There is more to this story than genetics; some type of early childhood trauma may play a role in schizophrenia. (The Causes of Schizophrenia http://www.nami.org/content/navigationmenu/mental_illnesses) The onset of schizophrenia occurs between the age of 15 and 45 in males, it is more common in males than females. There is talk from researchers about children with schizophrenia also having other mental disorders which include ADHD, ADD and bipolar disorder. Although there is not a tremendous amount of research they also believe that most children have had someone in their family who has been in a psychiatric hospital at some point and a family history of schizophrenia and some type of trauma. There is also a high number of suicide attempts in children with schizophrenia, there is also research to show that there is an increase of odds of schizophrenia in African Americans and Hispanic youth, however it is also very easy to misdiagnose these
Changes in key brain functions, such as awareness, emotion, and behavior lead experts to conclude that the brain is the biological site of schizophrenia. Some important risk factors to consider are genetics, viral infections, fetal malnutrition, and stress during early life, childhood abuse or trauma, and drugs.
Understanding Schizophrenia Many people today believe they are experts on schizophrenia due to hollywood titles such as 1948 blockbuster The Snake Pit or the 2001 hit A Beautiful Mind. However, many people do not know the cause, the symptoms, or the experiences people who suffer from schizophrenia face. Schizophrenia is
It is not know what exactly causes schizophrenia and there is no distinct lab test that can diagnosis it. However, research proposes that schizophrenia may have several possible causes. Genetics can be a factor. While schizophrenia occurs in 1% of the general population, having a family history increases the risk. Schizophrenia occurs in roughly 10% of people who have a first-degree relative with the disorder, such as a parent or sibling. Exposure to viruses or malnutrition before birth, especially in the first and second trimesters, has shown to increase the risk of schizophrenia. There have been studies that show that brain chemistry can effect whether a person is schizophrenic. People with with certain brain chemical imbalances, including neurotransmitters called dopamine and glutamate, may contribute to schizophrenia. These neurotransmitters allow brain cells to communicate with each other. Some studies have suggested substance plays a role. Taking mind-altering drugs during teen years and young adulthood can increase the risk of schizophrenia. A growing body of evidence indicates that smoking marijuana increases the risk of psychotic incidents and
Causes of schizophrenia Experts and scientist both agree that the main cause of schizophrenia is our genetics, while the environment in which one is subject to is suspected of being a minor or less likely cause. “Although genetics were thought to play a crucial role in the susceptibility to schizophrenia with a general heritability estimate of 80%, only about 10% of first-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia developed schizophrenia…One of the major environmental factors is the abuse of drugs, such as MA and cannabis” (Huabing, 2014). People who have a family history of mental illness, depression, or anxiety, are at more of a risk to be diagnosed with forms of schizophrenia than someone who comes from a healthy back ground.
Schizophrenia Schizophrenia is a mental illness that interferes with a person’s ability to think clearly, manage emotions, decision making, and relate to others. It’s a long-term medical illness affecting 1% of Americans. The causes of schizophrenia include genetics, environment, brain chemistry, and substance abuse. Schizophrenia occurs roughly in 10%of people who
It is known that many things contribute to the cause of schizophrenia it is not just one thing. Environmental factors and genetics can put you at risk of developing schizophrenia. It has been said that malnutrition and complications during pregnancy
The cause is still unclear. Some theories about the cause of this disease include (heredity), biology (abnormalities in the brain’s chemistry or structure) and/or possible viral infections and immune disorders. Scientists recognize that this disorder tends to run in families and that a person inherits a tendency to develop the disease. Similar to other genetically-related illnesses, schizophrenia may appear when the body undergoes hormonal and physical changes (like those that occur during puberty in the teen and young adult years) or after dealing with highly stressful situations. Some scientists believe that people with schizophrenia have an imbalance of the brain chemicals or neurotransmitters (electrical impulses that reach a neuron’s ending, the nerve ending is stimulated and releases this
There are many different ways someone gets schizophrenia other than it being genetic. There is also a way the environment can harm and cause problems to health. For example “exposure to viruses or malnutrition before birth has been shown to increase the risk of schizophrenia. Inflammation or autoimmune diseases can also lead to an increased immune system” (“Schizophrenia” Nami.org). That is why it is important to always eat and eat the right foods during pregnancy.
These neurotransmitters allow nerve cells in the brain to send messages to each other. The imbalance of these chemicals affects the way a person’s brain reacts to stimuli--which explains why a person with schizophrenia may be overwhelmed by sensory information (loud music or bright lights) which other people can easily handle(Schizophrenia). In terms of genetics, Scientists recognize that the disorder tends to run in families and that a person inherits a tendency to develop the disease. Schizophrenia may appear when the body undergoes hormonal and physical changes (like those that occur during puberty in the teen and young adult years) or after dealing with highly stressful situations. Schizophrenia though is not entirely a genetic disease an example being that the correlation of schizophrenia between identical twins, who have identical genomes, is less than one-half. Schizophrenia may also be triggered by environmental events, such as viral infections or immune disorders. For instance, babies whose mothers get the flu while they are pregnant are at higher risk of developing schizophrenia later in life. People who are hospitalized for severe infections are also at higher risk but we must pay attention to the early warning signs although they can be different for everyone. A few of the most common early signs of schizophrenia can be Hearing or seeing
Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder that causes severe mental disturbances which disrupt ones thoughts, speech, and behavior. According to Paul Thompson, Associate Professor of Neurology, one percent of the world’s population suffers from this disorder. There is no one specific cause of schizophrenia, because it is caused by a combination of problems during development. It is a disorder which not only affects the patient, but their family and society as well. Schizophrenia can be a debilitating disorder, however, there are many treatments that can allow people who suffer from it to lead normal lives.