Causes & Effects of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a complex, highly disruptive mental illness marked by delusions (firmly held false beliefs), continuous and confusing hallucinations and extremely disorganized thought patterns. While scientists have been as yet unable to pinpoint the exact cause of schizophrenia, much progress has been made toward understanding what may trigger its onset. What doctors are sure of, however, are the heartbreaking effects that schizophrenia has on the life of the afflicted and the people who love them. Schizophrenia affects the way a person perceives the world, which, under the effects of this devastating illness, can become a terrifying and impossible environment to navigate.

Cause: Genetics

• According to Help Guide, schizophrenia is highly hereditary. Whereas most people have a 1 percent chance of developing schizophrenia, if you have parent or sibling with schizophrenia, you have a 10 percent chance of developing the disorder. However, according to Schizophrenia.com, just because you have a family history or a genetic predisposition for mental illness, you still may not develop it, suggesting that it is a combination of genetic, biologic and environmental factors that may ultimately trigger the onset of schizophrenia.

Cause: Biology

• Research has shown that people with schizophrenia have an altered brain structure and/or brain chemical imbalance. According to Help Guide, brain scans taken on patients with schizophrenia have revealed decreased frontal lobe activity, enlarged ventricles, loss of gray matter and abnormalities in the hippocampus, amygdala and temporal lobes. Research also suggests that an imbalance of brain chemicals such as glutamate and dopamine may contribute to a predisposition for schizophrenia.

Cause: Environment

• If it is genetic and biologic factors that make a person vulnerable to schizophrenia, then it may be environmental triggers that complete the devastating triumvirate. Help Guide states that the latest research suggests that stress to the fetus during pregnancy or to the child during key developmental years may contribute to the onset of schizophrenia. Such stress-inducing events include physical or sexual abuse, childhood loss or separation from a parent, low oxygen levels at birth, and viral or bacterial exposure in the womb or in infancy.

Effect: Life Disruption

• If you are schizophrenic, you will, on a daily basis, be barraged with delusions, hallucinations and grossly disorganized thoughts, making it virtually impossible to undertake even normal, every day tasks like grocery shopping, eating, cleaning the house or even dressing yourself properly. Typically, you would not be able to maintain steady employment or supportive social relationships. Because schizophrenia often leads to isolation, the schizophrenic often finds herself alone and unable to get help.

Effect: Substance Abuse

• In an effort to quash the often hostile and terrifying delusions and hallucinations, schizophrenics frequently turn to drugs, alcohol or cigarettes. According to Arthur Schoenstadt, MD, substance abuse among schizophrenics is higher than among the general population. Cigarettes are the most common addiction, with schizophrenics being three times more likely to develop a nicotine addiction than those in the general population. In addition to the known health problems associated with substance abuse, narcotics, alcohol and nicotine can interfere with the effectiveness of anti-psychotic drug therapy.

Effect: Suicide Risk

• According to Schizophrenia.com, suicide is one of the leading causes of death for schizophrenics. Statistics show that 40 percent of schizophrenics will attempt suicide, and 10 to 15 percent of them will be successful. Suicidal attempts typically occur during depressive or psychotic episodes, or during the first 6 to 9 months of treatment.