Schizophrenia?!?!?

Question

My dad has schizophrenia and so does my mom's brother. is there a high chance that i might inherit it??

Answer 1

You have a higher than normal risk of developing it, but it's still a small risk.

There is a genetic basis for schizophrenia, but it's less strong than for other major mental illnesses (bipolar, major depression). So there's definitely also an environmental component.

If you're worried about this (and it's normal to be worried), it's totally okay to get some counseling sessions for yourself to talk about it and get some information; you might also consider joining a support group (check your local NAMI chapter--National Alliance on Mental Illness--to start with).

And just to give you a little hope/perspective... there are people with schizophrenia who function and have happy, successful lives. (My husband is one.) It's not a death sentence. But I do understand it's scary.

Take care.

Answer 2

Scientists have discovered that schizophrenia tends to run in families and that a person inherits a tendency to develop the illness. But the tendency is rather weak in most cases. Schizophrenia may also be triggered by environmental influences, such as viral infections, toxic chemical or highly stressful situations or a combination of all. Similar to other genetically-related illnesses, schizophrenia most often appears when the body undergoes hormonal and physical changes, like those that occur during puberty in the teen and young adult years. Studies of identical twins raised together and apart show that both people do not get the disorder more than about 15% of the time. So there appears to be something more than genetics that can protect some individuals and not others. One does not necessarily inherit schizophrenia.

Answer 3

I'm the only one in my family that has schizophrenia. I developed the illness at quite an early age due to emotional trauma caused by child abuse. It was in remission for a few years until I took on an extremely stressful job. It was so stressful that I began to be afraid to go to work. Eventually, I got irritable bowel syndrom (IBS) and couldn't work due to the severe pain in my stomach.

I lost my job, then my car, then my apartment. That was enough emotional trauma for the illness to return along with the voices and the hallucinations.

Today with the help of medication, it is in remission again.

You have a higher chance of getting the illness because your relatives have it. But that doesn't mean you will. All I can say is avoid extremely stressful situations that can trigger the illness. And be aware that new medications like Abilify 10 mg are working wonders for many people today.

Answer 4

From what I've read...it's possible, but heredity isn't the only cause of it. My aunt has it, but there is no other history of it in the family. Other causes stems from physiology and traumatic events early in life. Here's an article that helped me learn a lot more about it when my aunt was diagnosed

http://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/guide/schizophrenia-overview-facts

Hope it can help you too! :)

Answer 5

The risk in the general population is about 1%.

As the child of a schizophrenic patient, your risk is nearly 10 times that.

http://www.hubin.org/facts/faq/2002/3_en.html

Answer 6

From what I've read on it, it is genetic, but the possibility of 2 related family members is very unlikely.
If you start hearing voices or if other people are telling you that you're exhibiting strange behavior, go to a psychologist just to have it checked.

Answer 7

yeah there is a very good chance that you will inherit it because in runs on both sides of your family. but it still doesn't mean you will for sure. you just have a higher risk of it than other people with it on just one side of their family. or of those that it doesn't run in their immediate family. good luck and best wishes.