Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that interferes with a person’s ability to interpret reality. It is estimated to affect less than 1% of the U.S population.
Even though the exact cause of schizophrenia is unknown, there are certain factors that increase your risk of developing or triggering it. Let’s discuss a few:
Having a family history of schizophrenia increases your chances of developing it, but this does not mean that you’ll definitely get it solely because a family member is affected.
There is no one gene that causes schizophrenia, but rather a combination of genes that render one susceptible.
Taking mind-altering drugs during the teen years and adulthood increases your risk. There is good evidence that stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines can cause psychosis.
Data also points to cannabis use as being a cause. One study showed a 40% greater risk of psychosis in individuals who have ever used cannabis—even after controlling for other variables.
The more cannabis used, and the younger one may have begun further increases the risk.
Complications that occur in pregnancy such as premature labor, low birth weight, bleeding during pregnancy and preeclampsia have been shown to be risk factors for schizophrenia—perhaps owing to an effect on the baby’s developing brain.
Other studies have shown that maternal exposure to viruses and toxins during pregnancy, and around the time of conception are linked to a later risk of psychotic disorders in offspring.
Childhood trauma or adversities such as physical and psychological maltreatment, childhood sexual abuse, parental loss or divorce, parental substance abuse and poverty increase the risk for developing schizophrenia later in life.
Those with childhood traumas are three times more likely to have the disorder. Also, the more severe the childhood trauma, the more severe the subsequent symptoms of the illness.
Growing up and/or living in an urban environment has frequently been associated with an increased risk of schizophrenia or psychosis.
The proposed reasons for this include greater exposure to infections, maternal obstetrical complications, social deprivation and income inequality, but these have not been verified.
Research has shown that social isolation and poor or disrupted relationships during childhood, teen and the early adult years increase the risk of schizophrenia.
Social isolation and loneliness may directly increase anxiety and depression, and can exacerbate symptoms of psychosis.
It has also been found that first-episode psychosis patients are more likely to live alone or be single.
If you have one or more of these risk factors, this does not necessarily signal that you’ll develop schizophrenia.
The causes of schizophrenia are multifactorial, and affected individuals have a genetic predisposition, and then encounter one or more of the environmental risk factors mentioned above.
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