Schizophrenia what is the cause

This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder in which people interpret reality abnormally. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Schizophrenia. American Psychiatric Association; Accessed Sept. Schizophrenia adult. Mayo Clinic; Valton V, et al. Comprehensive review: Computational modeling of schizophrenia. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews.

Fisher DJ, et al. The neurophysiology of schizophrenia: Current update and future directions. International Journal of Psychophysiology. National Institute of Mental Health.

National Alliance on Mental Illness. It can also help you understand what — if anything — can be done to prevent this lifelong disorder. One of the most significant risk factors for schizophrenia may be genes. This disorder tends to run in families. If you have a parent, sibling, or other close relative with the condition, you may have a higher likelihood of developing it, too.

Instead, they suspect a combination of genes can make someone more susceptible. Researchers found that if one identical twin sibling has schizophrenia, the other has a 1 in 2 chance of developing it. This remains true even if the twins are raised separately.

If a twin is nonidentical fraternal and has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, the other twin has a 1 in 8 chance of developing it. In contrast, the risk for disease in the general population is 1 in Still, the findings suggest that even minor differences in brain structure may play a role in this psychiatric disorder. A series of complex interrelated chemicals in the brain, called neurotransmitters, are responsible for sending signals between brain cells.

Low levels or imbalances of these chemicals are believed to play a role in the development of schizophrenia and other mental health conditions.

Dopamine , in particular, seems to play a role in the development of schizophrenia. Researchers have found evidence that dopamine causes an overstimulation of the brain in people with schizophrenia. It may account for some of the symptoms of the condition. Evidence has pointed toward its involvement. However, there are a number of limitations to this research. Identical twins share the same genes.

In identical twins, if a twin develops schizophrenia, the other twin has a 1 in 2 chance of developing it, too. This is true even if they're raised separately. In non-identical twins, who have different genetic make-ups, when a twin develops schizophrenia, the other only has a 1 in 8 chance of developing the condition.

While this is higher than in the general population, where the chance is about 1 in , it suggests genes are not the only factor influencing the development of schizophrenia. Studies of people with schizophrenia have shown there are subtle differences in the structure of their brains. These changes are not seen in everyone with schizophrenia and can occur in people who do not have a mental illness. But they suggest schizophrenia may partly be a disorder of the brain.

There's a connection between neurotransmitters and schizophrenia because drugs that alter the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain are known to relieve some of the symptoms of schizophrenia. Research suggests schizophrenia may be caused by a change in the level of 2 neurotransmitters: dopamine and serotonin. This is because the first signs can include a change of friends, a drop in grades, sleep problems, and irritability—common and nonspecific adolescent behavior.

Other factors include isolating oneself and withdrawing from others, an increase in unusual thoughts and suspicions, and a family history of psychosis. In young people who develop schizophrenia, this stage of the disorder is called the "prodromal" period.

With any condition, it's essential to get a comprehensive medical evaluation in order to obtain the best diagnosis. For a diagnosis of schizophrenia, some of the following symptoms are present in the context of reduced functioning for a least 6 months:. The hallucination is very real to the person experiencing it, and it may be very confusing for a loved one to witness.

The voices in the hallucination can be critical or threatening. Voices may involve people that are known or unknown to the person hearing them. People who have delusions often also have problems concentrating, confused thinking, or the sense that their thoughts are blocked.

Negative symptoms often include being emotionally flat or speaking in a dull, disconnected way. People with the negative symptoms may be unable to start or follow through with activities, show little interest in life, or sustain relationships. Negative symptoms are sometimes confused with clinical depression. People with the cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia often struggle to remember things, organize their thoughts or complete tasks.

Diagnosing schizophrenia is not easy. Sometimes using drugs, such as methamphetamines or LSD, can cause a person to have schizophrenia-like symptoms.

The difficulty of diagnosing this illness is compounded by the fact that many people who are diagnosed do not believe they have it.

Lack of awareness is a common symptom of people diagnosed with schizophrenia and greatly complicates treatment. While there is no single physical or lab test that can diagnosis schizophrenia, a health care provider who evaluates the symptoms and the course of a person's illness over six months can help ensure a correct diagnosis.