People with psychotic symptoms may lose a shared sense of reality and experience themselves and the world in a distorted way.
Specifically, individuals typically experience:. Negative symptoms include loss of motivation, disinterest or lack of enjoyment in daily activities, social withdrawal, difficulty showing emotions, and difficulty functioning normally.
Specifically, individuals typically have:. Cognitive symptoms include problems in attention, concentration, and memory. For some individuals, the cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia are subtle, but for others, they are more prominent and interfere with activities like following conversations, learning new things, or remembering appointments.
Genetics: Schizophrenia sometimes runs in families. However, it is important to know that just because someone in a family has schizophrenia, it does not mean that other members of the family will have it as well. Genetic studies strongly suggest that many different genes increase the risk of developing schizophrenia, but that no single gene causes the disorder by itself. It is not yet possible to use genetic information to predict who will develop schizophrenia. Environmental factors that may be involved include living in poverty, stressful surroundings, and exposure to viruses or nutritional problems before birth.
Brain structure and function: Scientists think that differences in brain structure, function, and interactions among chemical messengers called neurotransmitters may contribute to the development of schizophrenia. For example, differences in the volumes of specific components of the brain, in the way regions of the brain are connected and work together, and in neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, are found in people with schizophrenia.
Differences in brain connections and brain circuits seen in people with schizophrenia may begin developing before birth. Changes to the brain that occur during puberty may trigger psychotic episodes in people who are vulnerable due to genetics, environmental exposures, or the types of brain differences mentioned above.
The causes of schizophrenia are complex and are not fully understood, so current treatments focus on managing symptoms and solving problems related to day to day functioning. Treatments include:. Antipsychotic medications can help reduce the intensity and frequency of psychotic symptoms. They are usually taken daily in pill or liquid forms. Some antipsychotic medications are given as injections once or twice a month, which some individuals find to be more convenient than daily oral doses.
Patients whose symptoms do not improve with standard antipsychotic medication typically receive clozapine. Many people taking antipsychotic medications have side effects such as weight gain, dry mouth, restlessness, and drowsiness when they start taking these medications. Some of these side effects subside over time, but others may persist, which may cause some people to consider stopping their antipsychotic medication.
Suddenly stopping medication can be dangerous and it can make schizophrenia symptoms worse. People should not stop taking antipsychotic medication without talking to a health care provider first. Shared decision making between doctors and patients is the recommended strategy for determining the best type of medication or medication combination and the right dose. You can find the latest information on warnings, patient medication guides, or newly approved medications on the U.
Cognitive behavioral therapy, behavioral skills training, supported employment, and cognitive remediation interventions may help address the negative and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia. A combination of these therapies and antipsychotic medication is common. Research has shown that teenagers and young adults who use cannabis regularly are more likely to develop schizophrenia in later adulthood.
Page last reviewed: 11 November Next review due: 11 November Causes - Schizophrenia. Increased risk Genetics Schizophrenia tends to run in families, but no single gene is thought to be responsible. Brain development Studies of people with schizophrenia have shown there are subtle differences in the structure of their brains.
Neurotransmitters Neurotransmitters are chemicals that carry messages between brain cells. Pregnancy and birth complications Research has shown people who develop schizophrenia are more likely to have experienced complications before and during their birth, such as: a low birthweight premature labour a lack of oxygen asphyxia during birth It may be that these things have a subtle effect on brain development.
Triggers Triggers are things that can cause schizophrenia to develop in people who are at risk. These include: Stress The main psychological triggers of schizophrenia are stressful life events, such as: bereavement losing your job or home divorce the end of a relationship physical, sexual or emotional abuse These kinds of experiences, although stressful, do not cause schizophrenia.
Drug abuse Drugs do not directly cause schizophrenia, but studies have shown drug misuse increases the risk of developing schizophrenia or a similar illness. One likely cause of this chemical imbalance is the person's genetic predisposition to the illness. Complications during pregnancy or birth that cause structural damage to the brain may also be involved.
Family relationships No evidence has been found to support the suggestion that family relationships cause the illness. However, some people with schizophrenia are sensitive to any family tension, which for them may be associated with recurrent episodes.
Stress It is well recognised that stressful incidents often precede the onset of schizophrenia. These may act as precipitating events in vulnerable people. People with schizophrenia often become anxious, irritable and unable to concentrate before any acute symptoms are evident.
This can cause problems with work or study and relationships to deteriorate. Advocacy State Fact Sheets. Advocacy Public Policy Reports. Symptoms It can be difficult to diagnose schizophrenia in teens. For a diagnosis of schizophrenia, some of the following symptoms are present in the context of reduced functioning for a least 6 months: Hallucinations.
Causes Research suggests that schizophrenia may have several possible causes: Genetics. Heredity does play a strong role—your likelihood of developing schizophrenia is more than six times higher if you have a close relative, such as a parent or sibling, with the disorder Environment.
Exposure to viruses or malnutrition before birth, particularly in the first and second trimesters has been shown to increase the risk of schizophrenia. Recent research also suggests a relationship between autoimmune disorders and the development of psychosis.
Brain chemistry. Problems with certain brain chemicals, including neurotransmitters called dopamine and glutamate, may contribute to schizophrenia. Neurotransmitters allow brain cells to communicate with each other. Networks of neurons are likely involved as well. Substance use. Some studies have suggested that taking mind-altering drugs during teen years and young adulthood can increase the risk of schizophrenia. A growing body of evidence indicates that smoking marijuana increases the risk of psychotic incidents and the risk of ongoing psychotic experiences.
The younger and more frequent the use, the greater the risk. Diagnosis Diagnosing schizophrenia is not easy. To be diagnosed with schizophrenia, a person must have two or more of the following symptoms occurring persistently in the context of reduced functioning: Delusions Hallucinations Disorganized speech Disorganized or catatonic behavior Negative symptoms Delusions or hallucinations alone can often be enough to lead to a diagnosis of schizophrenia.
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