Is schizophrenia a hereditary Disease?

Question

my husbands sister has that. I worry with my two children because my friend keeps saying I better wacth out. My sister in law has three children and her parent take care of them because her husband died using drugs. She never leave her parent, never work, never help taking care her own children.She had 1st baby when she was 16, she is 30 years old now. so over all she is a burden. Grandparent always busy w/ her children and don't have time for my children. Her mother (67 y/o) works harder to supply for the kids. Some times I don't want come to visit them, I am afraid she will be bad model for my kids. I know I am kind a too tough, maybe there is any solutions for me. Thanks anyway.

Answer 1

Unfortunately Yes - it is hereditary. but there are wonderful medications out there and the person can live a full life as long as they continue taking the meds on a daily basis.

Answer 2

No you're not being too tough. She is a lousy role model. You can talk to your kids on the drive home that drugs and mental illness did that to her and it's a great opportunity to talk to the kids about not doing drugs. Yes schizophrenia commonly occurs in families with a history. A new study suggests it may be a learned condition with the predominant modeling in very early childhood/toddler hood. Kids are going to act the way they see. I am glad they have grandparents that care enough to take them. Can you imagine their little lives if the grands didn't care??? I see it every day. Good luck and keep going with your instincts.

Answer 3

it is not heridatary, at least it is not believed to be so. Currently, most professionals believe it is a result of a physiological condition brought out by a life stressor.
There may be some biological predisposition to schizophrenia, but that doesn't necessarily mean the disorder is hereditary. Even when disorders such as depression or bipolar disorder (formerly called manic-depression) seem to run in families, it's not clear -- at least, to psychologists, who tend not to adhere as strictly to a medical model of mental illness as do psychiatrists -- how much is genetically based and how much is passed down behaviorally through family dysfunction.
For instance, a depressed parent may not be able to emotionally take care of his or her children or provide a role model for managing emotions. A psychotic parent may be neglectful or abusive to his or her children and inadvertently teach them a distorted approach to reality and relationships with others.

There also may well be an interaction between biological predisposition and environmental factors in disorders such as schizophrenia and depression. That is, some people may be born with a predisposition to a type of disorder, but not develop it unless they experience severe stress or some type of trauma, especially during their formative years. The role of trauma such as childhood abuse in the development of psychotic disorders is not well understood. A recent study found that almost all psychiatric inpatients with psychotic disorders reported trauma earlier in life.

Answer 4

Schizophrenia is a complex diagnosis and it doesn't particularly appear to fit what your sister-in-law is experiencing, unless there are additional details that you did not include.

As for its hereditary components, that's also difficult to assess. I've seen some situations where there have been significant clusters of mental health issues in a family among blood relatives, and I have seen individuals develop mental health problems without any apparent relative who could have passed it down, so to speak.

I wouldn't be worried about your children unless they begin to show unusual behaviour or appear to be more upset than usual, upon which you refer them to the appropriate specialist.

Answer 5

In some families there are clusters of people with schizophrenia, but most people who have it have no relatives with that disease. If his sister is the only one in his family, your children do not have any extra risk.

There are several known risk factors, if the mother has the flu during the third stage of pregnancy, etc.

I would worry more about your friends saying such cruel things.

Answer 6

Why would you have to worry about your children becoming schizophrenic if your sister-in-law has the disease? She has no genetic link to those children. But, yes, schizophrenia does tend to run in families.

Answer 7

The genetic factor in schizophrenia has been underscored by recent findings that 'first-degree biological relatives of schizophrenics are ten times as likely to develop the disorder as are members of the general population.'

Answer 8

Yes schizophrenia is hereditary. However properly treated schizophrenics can lead generally normal lives. Maybe your sister in law has other mental health issues and you should try and empathise with her instead of being angry.

Answer 9

Get on NAMI.org and click on "inform yourself" for information on schizophrenia. Yes, it is hereditary. But that doesn't mean your children "will" develop it. It would help to educate yourself just in case. Early intervention can help a lot.

Answer 10

Yes. Is she really scizophrenic or did she participate in the drug use with her husband ? Drugs and alcohol are capable of causing permanent brain damage also. It sounds like she's suffering form a deep depression.