Schizophrenia - Causes
The exact cause is unknown.
The evidence is overwhelming that schizophrenia is a biological disorder transmitted genetically.
It results from a chemical imbalance:
- probably schizophrenia represents too much dopamine, a neurotransmitter (chemical messenger used in the brain);
- this theory is probably overly simplistic since
- dopamine does different things in different parts of the brain;
- some of the newer medications have less effect on dopamine than on other neurotransmitters, such as serotonin.
- runs in families.
- 50% of affected identical twins develop the disorder.
- but 50% don't, so there appears to be some environmental influence, perhaps something that "turns on" a set of schizophrenia genes.
*** SCHIZOPHRENIA IS NOT CAUSED BY BAD OR INAPPROPRIATE PARENTING! ***
- little evidence supports Sigmund Freud's notion of a "schizophrenogenic mother"
- "high expressed emotion" parents may worsen the outcome of schizophrenic patients, however..
Note: schizophrenia does NOT mean a person has a "split mind"?