Is schizophrenia hereditary?!


Question: Is schizophrenia hereditary!?
The Father of my children had schizophrenia, mainly due to drug abuse!. we are split now, but i was wondering if our 2 boys would have a risk of getting it!?

If yes, what are the signs i can look out for in early childhood!?Www@Answer-Health@Com


Answers:
The popular theory among professionals is that the development of schizophrenia is determined by a mixture of both nature and nurture!. In other words, while it absolutely does have a hereditary component to it, that shouldn't be a reason to assume the worst!. Indeed, for the majority of people diagnosed with this illness, the signs and symptoms did not start showing up until they were past the point of puberty, so any "early warning signs" in your own children would likely not show up for quite a few years!.

You did mention that the father of your children experienced a schizophrenic episode as the direct result of drug abuse - and this is actually good news in terms of what you are worried about!. Preliminary studies have shown that while some people carry a predisposition to developing schizophrenia, many of them can go their entire lives without a single episode, whereas people with this predisposition who abuse drugs (even "light" drugs like marijuana), put themselves in a very high risk group by taking part in recreational drug use!.

As always, your best bet would be to consult with a physician, but I personally don't see any cause for concern at this point!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

Schizophrenia is more likely in a family member of schizophrenic than it is in the general population so yes, there's a hereditary component!.

However, the inheritance is complex and not well understood with multiple different genes linked to the disease!. If one of your parents or sibs is a schizophrenic then the likelihood of developing it during your lifetime is somewhere in the 5-15% range as compared to 1% in the general population!. If both your parents are schizophrenic then your risk goes up to the 25-35% range!.

Since this is only one parent affected the risk is fairly low!. No reliable way to screen early and onset is usually post-adolescent so enjoy you kids and try to put it out of your mind!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

There is strong evidence to support that it can be heredity!. However, not all people with it have a family history!. New evidence is showing that it can also be caused by "spontaneous mutations", which may explain why some people with no family history can get it too!.

You will note in the link I provided that the actual chance of the child getting it are quite low if only one parent has it!. Chances are much greater if both parents or an identical twin (still only about 50% chance) has it!.

Most professionals now believe that there is a combination of both internal and external factors that combined, may trigger schizophrenia to develop!. Both would be required in order for a person to get it!. For example, perhaps the child's father had a genetic predispostion (internal factor)!. Then, as he abused his body with harmful substances (external factor), it triggered the disease!.

Although your child's risk is relatively low, you can further decrease your child's risk by making sure he is raised in a nurturing and healthy environment, practicing good nutrition and sleep hygeine, while avoiding the kinds of potential triggers (illegal drugs) that may have triggered the incident in the father!.

Edit: To the people who doubt this disease exists: It is identifyable with brain scans!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

Schizophrenia is heritable, but without clear penetrance!. In otherwords, your children will have an increased risk of developing schizophrenia!. Having one or both schizophrenic parents raises the odds to about a 10% chance either one will develop it, vs 1% chance for a random person in the population!.

It typically develops in the early 20s, sometimes later teens!. Most schizophrenics report having some symptoms earlier, typically delusions, paranoia, occasionally hallucinations of some sort!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

First off, I don't believe in anything that QUACK shrinks say is a real disease!. The DSM is a fraud! It is filled with so called mental illnesses that are VOTED ON by fellow QUACK shrinks!. No biological proof of any mental disorder exists!. Bi Polar, schizophrenia, each and every phobia published in the DSM is a label not a disease!. The drugs used to treat these phoney illnesses are worse than the label itself!. Did you know that Zyprexa is a drug used for schizophrenia and bi polar "disorders"!. Are you aware this drug has killed over 40,000 people since it was first introduced back in the early 90's!? It is a known cause of diabetes, kidney failure, Tardive Dyskensia, Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome, fevers in excess of 106 degrees, and a whole host of other serious life threatening problems!.

I would not worry about your sons getting this label from a quack someday in the future!. After all they are not real doctors anyway!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

''Studies suggest that genetics, early environment, neurobiology, psychological and social processes are important contributory factors; some recreational and prescription drugs appear to cause or worsen symptoms!.''
''Due to the many possible combinations of symptoms, there is debate about whether the diagnosis represents a single disorder or a number of discrete syndromes''Www@Answer-Health@Com

There are genetics involved!. People can pass it on and be carriers of the disease and not have it themselves!. Stress is what brings it out of a person!. That goes for most disorders such as Bipolar, Anxiety, Depression!. But that is not to say it can be cause by something else like head trauma or excessive drug use!. Www@Answer-Health@Com

none your child is fine don't look for things like that in your child!.
As you might start blaming bad behaviour on it and your child could end up using it as an excuse to misbehave!.
Give your child positive thoughts and they will be fine, all kids are naughty and teenagers are the worse so don't think they have this problem ever!. Www@Answer-Health@Com

I think there are two views on this : (1) Yes, and (2) No!.Www@Answer-Health@Com





The consumer health information on answer-health.com is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions.
The answer content post by the user, if contains the copyright content please contact us, we will immediately remove it.
Copyright © 2007-2011 answer-health.com -   Terms of Use -   Contact us

Health Categories