Is schizophrenia Inherited?

Question

I am starting to wonder about this?

Answer 1

It's a yes and a no. Evidence points towards yes. You are 33% more likely to become schizophrenic if someone in your immediate family is schizophrenic. Although, anyone can develop it, even if no one in the family has had it before. Thus the confusing arguement. Studies also say that schizophrenia may be more dormant in some people compaired to others and depending on your lifestyle, that dormancy can either be eradicated or sustained.

Answer 2

There are many theories about the cause of schizophrenia, but none have been proved.

There is some evidence that genetics may play a role. Your chance of developing schizophrenia is 10 times greater if your parent or sibling has the disease. 2 But having a relative with schizophrenia does not mean you will get this disease. Many people develop schizophrenia who do not have a relative with this condition.

Schizophrenia may also be related to problems experienced during pregnancy, including malnutrition or exposure to a viral infection, that can damage an unborn child's developing brain and nervous system. 2 Recent evidence suggests that treating a pregnant woman who has high blood pressure with diuretics during the third trimester may put the baby at risk for later developing schizophrenia. 3

Another recent study suggests that a child is at greater risk for developing schizophrenia if the father is over the age of 50 when the child is conceived. 4 Another possible cause is a head injury in a child who has a parent or sibling with schizophrenia—the head injury may trigger this brain disease if the child is genetically already at risk. 5

Schizophrenia symptoms also have been linked with the use of illegal drugs.

More research is needed to definitively prove the cause(s) of schizophrenia.

Answer 3

Scientists have long known that schizophrenia runs in families. It occurs in 1 percent of the general population, but is seen in 10 percent of people with a first degree relative (a parent, brother, or sister) with the disorder. People who have second degree relatives (aunts, uncles, grandparents, or cousins) with the disease also develop schizophrenia more often than the general population. The identical twin of a person with schizophrenia is most at risk, with a 40-65 percent chance of developing the problem.2,4

Our genes are located on 23 pairs of chromosomes that are found in each cell. We inherit two copies of each gene, one from each parent. Several of these genes are thought to be associated with an increased risk of schizophrenia, but scientists currently believe that each gene has a very small effect and is not responsible for causing the disease by itself. It is still not possible to predict who will develop the disease by looking at their genetic material.

Although there is a genetic risk for schizophrenia, genes alone are not likely to be sufficient to cause the disorder. Interactions between genes and the environment are thought to be necessary for schizophrenia to develop. Many environmental factors have been suggested as risk factors, such as exposure to viruses or malnutrition in the womb, problems during birth, and psychosocial factors, like stressful environmental conditions.

Answer 4

Hi,

Schizophrenia is more prevalent in families with this defect.
If, it runs in your family you may have a greater chance of inheriting it. Just because you're predisposed for this trait does not automatically mean you will be afflicted. Many times it can show up after a great stress in your life. This is called a psychological break with reality. (psychotic break) Sanity is a very fine line.

Answer 5

Yes, if schizophrenia is a trait in your family, then you have a much higher risk than someone who doesn't have schizophrenia in their family. I have heard that mental illnesses are usually passed from mother to son and from sons to daughters and so forth. You see the pattern. This is true on some people that I know.

Answer 6

Yes, it is one of the mental disorders that can be inherited. It doesn't necessarily mean that you will inherit it. Sometimes it jumps a generation. Unfortunately, it didn't do that with my family. My mother passed it on (so to speak) to my eldest sister. If I say, I hope my sisters kids don't get it then does that mean that I am saying it will pass to her grandkids. I sure hope not. I hope the problem stops in my family. I try to help my sister but she doesn't let me anymore. she says she can't deal with the fact that her sister is dying. It is real hard on me to know that I am dying but that doesn't mean I don't need my family support. Oh brother, here I go again. I guess I just want you to see a trend.
If someone in your family has it, please get them help because you never know how many personalities a schizophrenic can have.

Answer 7

Studies performed on identical twins have both supported and rejected inheritence to schizophrenia. In otherwords, we're back at square one.

Answer 8

Look at sociology studies on rates of mental illness in groups educated or uneducated. Mothers never tell secrets so we don't know all the genetics. It is part of mental illness to be prone to respond to social activities in our own natural way. All bodies are not the same in response . Life experiences quickly become more important than genetics as the we grow older. Each group responds to the child's sensitivity.

Answer 9

Studies of identical twins who were adopted and raised apart show that schizophrenia is about fifty percent genetic and fifty percent environmental, because if one twin is schizophrenic, odds are fifty percent that the other twin will be also. If your non identical brother or sister is schizophrenic, your odds of having it are about nine percent. For comparison, in the general population, the rate of schizophrenia is one percent.

Answer 10

My dad is paranoid schizophrenic and suffers from ptsd. He lives well on medication - quetiapine - on his own. I have two brothers, the youngest being 25 and no sign of schizophrenia yet from any of us. Also no family history of it.