Question: What Causes Schizophrenia?
Answer:
Researchers do not yet understand what causes schizophrenia. People who develop schizophrenia have some Using evidence e do not know what causes the disease in the first place. Some researchers believe that what we consider schizophrenia may actually be more than one illness, sharing symptoms but each with a different cause. Other researchers believe schizophrenia is one disease, but that multiple factors interact to cause it.
Scientists all over the world are conducting research to explore many possible causes of the illness. Theories about what causes schizophrenia can be categorized as:
- Genetic Theories
- Neurochemical Theories
- Endochrine (Hormonal) Theories
- Infectious or Immune Theories
- Developmenta Theoriesl
- Nutritional Theories
- Stress Theories
Although the real causes of schizophrenia aren’t yet known, scientists have been able to reject many once-held theories. We now know, for example:
- Bad mothers don’t cause schizophrenia.
Sources:
What Causes Schizophrenia? (2007) National Institutes of Mental Health.
Torrey, E.F. (2006) Surviving Schizophrenia: a Manual for Families, Patients and Providers, 5th Edition. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.