subject: Schizophrenia - What Are The Likely Causes Of This Mental Disorder [print this page] The brain has one of the most complex structure and operation in the world. It is no surprise that mankind has been trying to figure out how it function for the longest time and could manage to find out only very little. This is the case of Schizophrenia as well, a mental disorder that affects one's perception of the real world. Researchers have been studying the condition for a considerably time and could only come out with relatively little findings on the causes of this mental disorder listed below.
Genetic and Environmental aspects
Genetic factors play an important role in the occurrence of Schizophrenia. Studies have proven that a person with family history of Schizophrenia is more likely to develop the mental disorder himself. Statistical figures in terms of propensity to develop Schizophrenia show propensity of people whose family members have Schizophrenia is 10% in contrast to 1% propensity of people whose family do not suffer from Schizophrenia.
Nevertheless, genetic factor is one of the influencing factor and not the most decisive one. To support this statement, 60% of Schizophrenia patients were found to have no family history of the disorder. Looking into the environmental aspect of the causes responsible for Schizophrenia, scientists have indicated that an elevated level of stress is accountable for triggering Schizophrenia, as increased stress not only causes several biochemical changes in the body but also increases the level of cortisol hormone.
Complications and insufficient care during pregnancy and delivery
Children born after complications in delivery are more likely to have Schizophrenia. If there are complications during delivery, this can lead to hypoxia in the neonatal brain resulting in higher possibility of the child getting Schizophrenia when he grows up. This finding was supported by animal model, epidemiological, molecular and genetic studies. Proper care during pregnancy to avoid stress and keep a good diet is an important factor.
Researches have shown that a child who suffers from Schizophrenia is more likely to be from mothers who are malnutrition from their pregnancy period. Through a study on pregnant ladies during Winter War of 1939, in Finland, it was elucidated that those pregnant women who knew about their husband's death during pregnancy and hence underwent a lot of stress were more susceptible to give birth to a child with Schizophrenia, than the women who knew about their husband's death after delivery.
During pregnancy, mothers who develop viral infections such as maternal genital infection are more likely to have a child who has a higher change to get Schizophrenia.
Neurological aspects
Several structural and functional changes in the brain can cause Schizophrenia. The frontal lobe, part of the brain that helps human to make decision is malfunction. Studies have demonstrated that Schizophrenic patients have large ventricles, which indicates a discrepancy in the neurons.
There are still several molecular, epidemiological, genetic and animal studies going on in several laboratories and research centers to further decipher the causes behind the mental disorder like Schizophrenia. As world of medical science becomes more advance, we can gain more ground to understand this disorder and develop better treatment methods.
