CAUSES OF SCHIZOPHRENIA

1ST:

If you know someone with schizophrenia, you probably want to know why they have it. The truth is,
doctors don’t really know what causes this mental illness.

Research shows it takes a combination of genetics and your environment to trigger the disease.
Knowing what increases the chances can help you put together a better picture of your odds of
getting schizophrenia.

Genetics

Think of your genes as a blueprint for your body. If there’s a change to these instructions, it can
sometimes increase your odds for developing diseases like schizophrenia.

Doctors don’t think there’s just one “schizophrenia gene.” Instead they think it takes many genetic
changes, or mutations, to raise your chances of having the mental illness.

They do know that you’re more likely to get schizophrenia if someone in your family has it. If it’s a
parent, brother, or sister, your chances go up by 10%. If both your parents have it, you have a 40%
chance of getting it, too.

Your chances are greatest -- 50% -- if you have an identical twin with the disorder.

But some people with schizophrenia have no history of it in their family. Scientists think that in these
cases, a gene may have changed and made the condition more likely.

Still, genes aren’t the only thing that matters.

2ND:

The exact causes of schizophrenia are unknown. Research suggests a combination of physical,
genetic, psychological and environmental factors can make a person more likely to develop the
condition.

Some people may be prone to schizophrenia, and a stressful or emotional life event might trigger a
psychotic episode. However, it's not known why some people develop symptoms while others don't.