There are many causes to Schizophrenia. Many causes are genetics, brain chemistry and structure, and the environment of a human being. Genetically Schizophrenia can run through a family and can be passed on generations at a time. “Individuals with a first degree relative (parent or sibling) who has schizophrenia have a 10 percent chance of developing the disorder, as opposed to the 1 percent chance of the general population.” (Helpguide.org) Identical twins are a good example of this. “If an identical twin is diagnosed with Schizophrenia the other twin is 50 percent more likely to also be diagnosed with the mental disorder (psychcentral.com).” Brain chemistry and structure is another big factor in the cause of Schizophrenia. Neurotransmitters- …show more content…
If the chemicals in the brain are having trouble going through the brain then that can cause a psychological disorder such as Schizophrenia. There is also evidence to suggest that the brain of people with Schizophrenia is different than those that have healthier brains. “Some studies also suggest that abnormalities in the temporal lobes, hippocampus, and amygdala are connected to schizophrenia’s positive symptoms (hallucinations or delusions) (Helpguide.org).” In my opinion, the environment one endures can be the biggest factor in the cause of schizophrenia. Child abuse, early traumatic events, severe stress, and negative life events can all have a very huge impact in the cause of Schizophrenia. What someone went through in their past can determine their future. There are five types of Schizophrenia. These types are: Paranoid, disorganized, catatonic, undifferentiated, and residual Schizophrenia. Paranoid schizophrenia is where people see hallucinations and have delusions about a problem or conspiracy. John Nash, the Nobel peace prize winner, is a good example of someone that has paranoid schizophrenia. “He believed that all men wearing red ties were part of a communist plot against …show more content…
In some people's cases, Schizophrenia appears suddenly and without warning. But for most it comes slowly, with subtle warning signs and a gradual decline in functioning long before the first severe episode. “In the early phases of Schizophrenia people often seem eccentric, unmotivated, emotionless, and reclusive (Helpguide.org).” They may isolate themselves and not want to participate in daily activities such as playing with their children, going outside, or getting off the couch. They abandon their hobbies and they do not do well in their jobs. “The most common early warning signs of Schizophrenia include: social withdrawal, hostility or suspiciousness, deterioration of personal hygiene, having a flat and expressionless gaze, the inability to cry or express joy, inappropriate laughter or crying, depression, oversleeping or insomnia, odd or irrational statements, forgetfulness or the inability to concentrate, extreme reaction to criticism, and or strange use of words or way of speaking (Helpguide.org).” There are five types of symptoms of Schizophrenia. Positive is a symptom that involves having hallucinations or delusions. Negative is when one shows no emotion or flat behavior. Avolation is when a person shows little interest in whatever they are doing. Cognitive behavior is when you have disorganized speech or memory loss. Catatonic behavior is considered poor functioning such as your voluntary muscles
There are a ton of reasons for one to be diagnosed with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a long-term mental disorder of a type involving a breakdown in the relation between thought, emotion, and behavior, leading to faulty perception, inappropriate actions and feelings, withdrawal from reality and personal relationships into fantasy and delusion, and a sense of mental fragmentation. Schizophrenia can be hereditary in some cases but in most it has been known to be environmental. One cause liked to schizophrenia is low levels of folate acid and defective folate metabolism which mean the MTHFR gene mutation can lead to schizophrenia in some cases.
Not every person with schizophrenia will have all symptoms, and the symptoms of schizophrenia may change over time.” (Schizophrenia: Sings, Types & Causes, Authors: Melinda Smith, M.A., and Jeanne Segal, Ph. D., Last Update February 2014, http://www.helpguide.org/mental/schizophrenia_symptom.htm) It is believed that no one single gene causes schizophrenia it is said that more than one gene is the cause of increased risk of schizophrenia there is a greater risk of a child developing it. There is more to this story than genetics; some type of early childhood trauma may play a role in schizophrenia. (The Causes of Schizophrenia http://www.nami.org/content/navigationmenu/mental_illnesses) The onset of schizophrenia occurs between the age of 15 and 45 in males, it is more common in males than females. There is talk from researchers about children with schizophrenia also having other mental disorders which include ADHD, ADD and bipolar disorder. Although there is not a tremendous amount of research they also believe that most children have had someone in their family who has been in a psychiatric hospital at some point and a family history of schizophrenia and some type of trauma. There is also a high number of suicide attempts in children with schizophrenia, there is also research to show that there is an increase of odds of schizophrenia in African Americans and Hispanic youth, however it is also very easy to misdiagnose these
No one really knows how schizophrenia is caused, but it can be seen that both environmental and genetic risks are factors in the development. The environment risks are the over use of marijuana, (add more thingy’s). The genetic risks of schizophrenia are the issues within growth during a pregnancy, brain chemistry and structure, passing of the schizophrenic gene from one generation to the next generation, (more thingy’s). As you can see in figure one both environmental and genetic factors work together in this unfortunate development.
The cause of schizophrenia still unclear. It is more likely to the result of many factors, for ex-ample brain chemistry, genetic, stressful events, psychological and environmental and losing beloved ones.
Experts think that schizophrenia is caused by many contributing factors according to the NIMH and Berstein. Although there is a lot about schizophrenia that experts may not know, they do know that it is a genetic disease hat runs in families. According to the NIMH, those affected individuals are highly likely to have a close relative such as a mother, father, sibling, or grandparent with the disorder. According to Tischauser, a person with one parent who has the disease is ten times more likely to develop schizophrenia than a member of the general public. Thirty-nine percent of people who have both parents afflicted with the disease also develop schizophrenia. Schizophrenia majorly affects a person’s brain. The disorder disrupts the way that the brain cells function and communicate with each other. In the affected persons’ brain, the neurotransmitters that carry signals from one cell in the brain to the other may be abnormal or the transmitter may be malfunctioning (Bernstein). It is believed that several genes are associated with an increased risk of having schizophrenia. No single gene causes schizophrenia by itself. In fact, the genetic differences may include up to hundreds of different genes and the disruption of brain development. Bernstein states that we do know that there is an affected gene that is key to making important chemicals for the brain. Also, experts say that the environment is a factor in people with schizophrenia. For example, some environmental factors may include exposure to viruses, malnutrition before birth, problems during birth and other not yet known psychological factors. According to Anushree Bose, other factors that contribute to having schizophrenia include an imbalance of brain chemistry and different structures of the brain (7). The NIMH also adds that a person’s brain who has schizophrenia will look similar to a healthy person’s brain, but only in small ways. They
Schizophrenia is classified as a psychotic disorder. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, in order to be diagnosed with schizophrenia, an individual must present two (or more) of the following symptoms for a significant portion of time during a one-month period: delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, catatonic behavior, or negative symptoms (such as diminished emotional expression or avolition). The DSM-5, however, has a continuum (schizophrenia spectrum) of disorders that may be similar to schizophrenia disorder but not as severe or persistent.
Changes in key brain functions, such as awareness, emotion, and behavior lead experts to conclude that the brain is the biological site of schizophrenia. Some important risk factors to consider are genetics, viral infections, fetal malnutrition, and stress during early life, childhood abuse or trauma, and drugs.
Stress that is caused by a traumatic event or family situations may be a trigger, which can cause this disorder to surface in those who possess a genetic predisposition. Another trigger that may play a major part is an imbalance of dopamine and serotonin, which are located in the brain. The behavioral patterns that are associated with schizophrenia are thought to result from an over activity of dopamine within certain areas of the brain. The areas of the brain that are affected by this disorder are the forebrain, hindbrain, and limbic system (The Lundbeck Institute, 2002-2005).
Many researchers believe it to be a combination of factors such as brain chemistry, genetics, and various environmental factors. Neuroimaging studies have shown differences in the brain structure and central nervous system of people with schizophrenia. While researchers aren't certain about the significance of these changes, they indicate that schizophrenia is a brain disease. (Mayo Clinic Healthy Living, October 11, 2012) Also, people who have problems with certain naturally occurring brain chemicals- including some neurotransmitters called dopamine and glutamate- have a higher risk of contracting schizophrenia. Other factors that may increase the risk of a person developing schizophrenia is having a family history of the disorder, pregnancy complications, taking certain psychoactive drugs, and exposure to neurotoxins at a young
It is not know what exactly causes schizophrenia and there is no distinct lab test that can diagnosis it. However, research proposes that schizophrenia may have several possible causes. Genetics can be a factor. While schizophrenia occurs in 1% of the general population, having a family history increases the risk. Schizophrenia occurs in roughly 10% of people who have a first-degree relative with the disorder, such as a parent or sibling. Exposure to viruses or malnutrition before birth, especially in the first and second trimesters, has shown to increase the risk of schizophrenia. There have been studies that show that brain chemistry can effect whether a person is schizophrenic. People with with certain brain chemical imbalances, including neurotransmitters called dopamine and glutamate, may contribute to schizophrenia. These neurotransmitters allow brain cells to communicate with each other. Some studies have suggested substance plays a role. Taking mind-altering drugs during teen years and young adulthood can increase the risk of schizophrenia. A growing body of evidence indicates that smoking marijuana increases the risk of psychotic incidents and
Schizophrenia is a complex brain disorder. Like many other illnesses, schizophrenia is believed to result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. All the tools of modern science are being used to search for the causes of this disorder.
Just like any other illness schizophrenia has genetic and environmental causes. Genetically there are three main causes for schizophrenia. These genetics affect the structures in your brain and the way they perceive incoming information. First off, the hippocampus and surrounding brain matter might be reduced in size in a patient with schizophrenia, influencing sensory filtering. The reduction in size causes pressure in this region, creating inaccurate sensory filtering; altering the way the individual perceives the sensory input. Secondly, the cerebral fluid surrounding the brain could be sending different levels of certain chemicals that affect interpretation, nerve impulses, and general regulatory functions. Finally, there might be a cellular defect in the frontal
The cause of this condition is not known, but there has been studies of a specific gene referred to as the “schizophrenia gene” that controls the production of new neurons and how they are integrated into the brain’s existing network. This gene, along with any imbalance of dopamine and environmental factors could all combine to cause schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia is one of the most treacherous brain disorders that affect many people in the world today. It is very difficult for someone to distinguish between what is real and what is not. Most people with this disorder are considered disabled because daily life as a normal person is almost impossible. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, people with schizophrenia may hear voices that other people don’t hear, and they also may think other people are trying to hurt them. Sometimes they don’t make any sense when they talk. Depending on the patient, schizophrenia can vary from mild to severe. There are many symptoms that coincide with schizophrenia. Some of these symptoms include delusions, hallucinations, disordered thinking, and emotional unresponsiveness. There are many risk factors of schizophrenia such as age, gender, intelligence, and culture. Schizophrenia is not considered a psychological disorder, but a brain disease. Some doctors may assume that the brain is not able to process information correctly. A person’s genetics, physiological and social, and their environment may factor in to what can trigger schizophrenia. This is an unfortunate and debilitating disorder, however there are many therapies available to help with this disease.
Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder that causes severe mental disturbances which disrupt ones thoughts, speech, and behavior. According to Paul Thompson, Associate Professor of Neurology, one percent of the world’s population suffers from this disorder. There is no one specific cause of schizophrenia, because it is caused by a combination of problems during development. It is a disorder which not only affects the patient, but their family and society as well. Schizophrenia can be a debilitating disorder, however, there are many treatments that can allow people who suffer from it to lead normal lives.