Question: How do people develop schizophrenia?????

Nick Bradshaw answered on 25 Mar 2010:

I’m sure I have already answered this one a couple of times, but can’t see it on the list. How bizarre.

In terms of whether or not someone will get it, it appears to be in part due to our genes and in part due to other environmental factors. An interesting way to look at it is with identical twins (who have exacltly the same genetics as each other). A normal person has about a 1 in 200 chance of getting schizophrenia. If your identical twin has schziophrenia though, you have about a 1 in 3 chance of getting it as well. So having “schizophrenia genes” make you more likely to get it – but doesn’t guarantee it.

Where and when you were born, if your mother had birth complications and whether you smoke cannabis can all also make a difference in whether you develop it or not.

In terms of sympotms, it appears to be due to some sort of mis-wiring of your brain, but doesn’t ususally kick in until aroung the age of 20-25. Symptoms can include delusions (believing that something is real when it isn’t, e.g. that your dad is present, hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that arent there), paranoia, depression and lack of soical ability.