What causes schizophrenia?
Nobody has been able to pinpoint one single cause. Experts believe several factors are generally involved in contributing to the onset of schizophrenia.
The likely factors do not work in isolation, either. Evidence does suggest that genetic and environmental factors generally act together to bring about schizophrenia. Evidence indicated that the diagnosis of schizophrenia has an inherited element, but it is also significantly influenced by environmental triggers. In other words, imagine your body is full of buttons, and some of those buttons result in schizophrenia if somebody comes and presses them enough times and in the right sequences.
The buttons would be your genetic susceptibility, while the person pressing them would be the environmental factors.
Below is a list of the factors that are thought to contribute towards the onset of schizophrenia:
- Your genes
If there is no history of schizophrenia in your family your chances of developing it are less than 1%. However, that risk rises to 10% if one of your parents was/is a sufferer.
A gene that is probably the most studied "schizophrenia gene" plays a surprising role in the brain: It controls the birth of new neurons in addition to their integration into existing brain circuitry, according to an article published by Cell.
A Swedish study found that schizophrenia and bipolar disorder have the same genetic causes.
Thirteen locations in the human genetic code may help explain the cause of schizophrenia - a study involving 59,000 people, 5,001 of whom had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, identified 22 genome locations, with 13 new ones that are thought to be involved in the development of schizophrenia.
The scientists added that of particular importance to schizophrenia were two genetically-determined processes - the "micro-RNA 137" pathway and the "calcium channel pathway".
Principal investigator, Professor Patrick Sullivan, of the Center for Psychiatric Genomics at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, said "This study gives us the clearest picture to date of two different pathways that might be going wrong in people with schizophrenia. Now we need to concentrate our research very urgently on these two pathways in our quest to understand what causes this disabling mental illness." - Chemical imbalance in the brain
Experts believe that an imbalance of dopamine, a neurotransmitter, is involved in the onset of schizophrenia. They also believe that this imbalance is most likely caused by your genes making you susceptible to the illness. Some researchers say other the levels of other neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, may also be involved.
Changes in key brain functions, such as perception, emotion and behavior lead experts to conclude that the brain is the biological site of schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia could be caused by faulty signaling in the brain, according to research published in the journalMolecular Psychiatry. - Family relationships
Although there is no evidence to prove or even indicate that family relationships might cause schizophrenia, some patients with the illness believe family tension may trigger relapses. - Environment
Although there is yet no definite proof, many suspect that prenatal or perinatal trauma, and viral infections may contribute to the development of the disease. Perinatal means "occurring about 5 months before and up to one month after birth".
Stressful experiences often precede the emergence of schizophrenia. Before any acute symptoms are apparent, people with schizophrenia habitually become bad-tempered, anxious, and unfocussed. This can trigger relationship problems, divorce and unemployment. These factors are often blamed for the onset of the disease, when really it was the other way round - the disease caused the crisis. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to know whether schizophrenia caused certain stresses or occurred as a result of them. - Some drugs
Cannabis and LSD are known to cause schizophrenia relapses. According to the State Government of Victoria6in Australia, for people with a predisposition to a psychotic illness such as schizophrenia, usage of cannabis may trigger the first episode in what can be a disabling condition that lasts for the rest of their lives.
The National Library of Medicine9 says that some prescription drugs, such as steroids and stimulants, can cause psychosis.
Schizophrenia tests and diagnosis
A schizophrenia diagnosis is carried out by observing the actions of the patient. If the doctor suspects possible schizophrenia, they will need to know about the patient's medical and psychiatric history.
Certain tests will be ordered to rule out other illnesses and conditions that may trigger schizophrenia-like symptoms. Examples of some of the tests may include:
- Blood tests - to determine CBC (complete blood count) as well as some other blood tests.
- Imaging studies - to rule out tumors, problems in the structure of the brain, and other conditions/illnesses
- Psychological evaluation - a specialist will assess the patient's mental state by asking about thoughts, moods, hallucinations, suicidal traits, violent tendencies or potential for violence, as well as observing their demeanor and appearance.
Schizophrenia - Diagnostic Criteria
Patients must meet the criteria laid down in the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). It is an American Psychiatric Association manual that is used by health care professionals to diagnose mental illnesses and conditions.
The health care professional needs to exclude other possible mental health disorders, such as bipolar disorder orschizoaffective disorder.
It is also important to establish that the signs and symptoms have not been caused by, for example, a prescribed medication, a medical condition, or substance abuse.
Also, the patient must:
- Have at least two of the following typical symptoms of schizophrenia -
- Delusions
- Disorganized or catatonic behavior
- Disorganized speech
- Hallucinations
- Negative symptoms that are present for much of the time during the last four weeks. - Experience considerable impairment in the ability to attend school, carry out their work duties, or carry out every day tasks
- Have symptoms which persist for six months or more
Sometimes, the person with schizophrenia may find their symptoms frightening, and conceal them from others. If there is severe paranoia, they may be suspicious of family or friends who try to help. There are many elements in disease that make it difficult to confirm a schizophrenia diagnosis.
Recent developments on schizophrenia from MNT news
A team of scientists claims to have finally started to understand what goes wrong in schizophrenia, following the discovery that disease-linked mutations disrupt genes responsible maintaining a chemical balance in the brain crucial for healthy brain development and function.
The incidence of schizophrenia and bipolar among creative individuals has led researchers to speculate there may be a link between creativity and psychiatric illness. Now, a new study finds this link may be partly genetic.
Researchers have created a new game for people with schizophrenia that they say can improve their memory and help them work and live independently.
In what is believed to be the first study of its kind, new research has revealed the omega-3 fatty acids found inFISH OIL
may be effective for reducing the risk of psychosis.
may be effective for reducing the risk of psychosis.
Antipsychotic medications are the most common treatment for individuals with schizophrenia, helping to relieve some of the debilitating symptoms caused by the disorder. But according to a new study, long-term use of these drugs may also negatively impact brain structure.
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