Do you know if schizophrenia runs in families?

Question

I am a schizophrenic. I have had this disease since age 14.

Answer 1

yes, it does run in families.

Answer 2

Many mental illnesses run in families, suggesting that the illnesses may be passed on from parents to children through genes. Genes contain instructions for the function of each cell in the body and are responsible for how we look, act, and think, etc. But, just because your mother or father may have a mental illness doesn't mean you will have one. Hereditary just means that you are more likely to get the condition than if you didn't have an affected family member. Experts believe that many mental conditions are linked to problems in multiple genes -- not just one, as with many diseases -- which is why a person inherits a susceptibility to a mental disorder, but doesn't always develop the condition. The disorder itself occurs from the interaction of these genes and other factors -- such as psychological trauma and environmental stressors -- which can influence, or trigger, the illness in a person who has inherited a susceptibility to it.

Answer 3

I have been told that it does, but other family members can get any form of mental illness, such as varying degrees of depression, bipolar disease. etc.. It won't always manifest itself in another generation as schizophrenia.

Answer 4

From the one or two people I know who have it, it seems some sort of mental illness runs in the family...and my one friend who has it, both her boys are autistic.

Answer 5

Hi i think so, you may need to check with the doctors and have it check, because its important if to know that if you have children that they could be possibly effected by it in the future.

Answer 6

There is an element of heredity but there are other factors to take into account.

Answer 7

yes it is. but the better part is only 50% of the genetically shizophrenics develops the disease

see http://www.schizophrenia.com/ami/index.html

Answer 8

Yes it does. My great uncle had it, my aunt had it, and my sister has it. My sister had a child she gave up for adoption, and she now has it

Answer 9

yes, it does.
generally through the male line

Answer 10

it runs in families and sometimes will skip a generation.very sad.