By Kara Mayer Robinson
WebMD Feature
Reviewed by Joseph Goldberg, MD
Schizophrenia is a complex illness that may partly involve your genes. But other events in your life may also play a role.
Scientists are edging closer to figuring out if there are ways to lower the risk of schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia is a chronic, disabling mental illness characterized by a wide range of symptoms, including: abnormal thinking loss of contact with reality hallucinations It is strongly linked to an increased risk of suicide attempts and completed suicides. Among people diagnosed with schizophrenia, an estimated 20% to 40% attempt suicide. From 5% to 13% actually complete the act of suicide. Compared to the general population, people with schizophrenia have a more than...
Genes Aren't Everything
Schizophrenia can sometimes run in families, but there isn't one specific gene that causes it. It may be a combination of many genes or genetic variations that may put some people at a higher risk. For others who get schizophrenia, there may be no signs of a family history of the illness.
It's possible that someone has genes linked to schizophrenia and then faces events that make them more likely to develop the disorder, says Julia Samton, MD, the director of Manhattan Neuropsychiatric PC in New York.
Some of these events are in your control and some aren't:
Pregnancy complications. Infection, stress, and complications during pregnancy such as preeclampsia have been linked to a greater risk.
Depression or other major stressors during pregnancy may also play a role. "A woman who experiences a death or other tragedy during pregnancy is also more likely to have a child at risk," Samton says.
Childhood experiences. Brain injury, sexual abuse, and traumatic early experiences may raise the risk.
"Children who were exposed to any trauma before age 16 were three times more likely to become psychotic," Samton says. If the trauma was severe, children were 50 times more likely.
Early use of illicit drugs. Early and long-term use of marijuana and other illicit drugs, such as opiates and stimulants, may be a factor in "unmasking" someone's risk for developing schizophrenia.
What to Do if Schizophrenia Runs in Your Family
Don't use drugs. This is especially important for teens. Exposure to chemicals may be toxic to the developing brain and bumps up risk of psychosis. Limit drinking of alcohol, too.
Avoid abusive or traumatic situations. Both may make you more likely to get psychosis and schizophrenia. If you're in an abusive relationship or you're going through trauma, get help.
Be social. A strong social network is important for good health. If you're at risk for schizophrenia, socializing also helps you maintain self-esteem, lower stress, not feel lonely, and keep busy. Teens, especially, should be encouraged to connect with friends and avoid isolation, Samton says.
Learn how to manage stress. Chronic stress and anxiety can be bad for your health.
It's important to set up healthy strategies to manage stress, says Cheryl Corcoran, MD, a research scientist at Columbia University's New York State Psychiatric Institute. You can do this in therapy or learn from your parents, teachers, or other role models who seem to manage stress well.
Take care of your body. Good nutrition and plenty of exercise are important.
Take steps to protect yourself from head injuries, too. For example, wear helmets when biking or playing contact sports -- and be cautious about activities that put you at risk for head injuries.
source : Is It Possible to Prevent Schizophrenia?
