Environmental and genetic affects and schizophrenia
Environmental and genetic affects and schizophreniathe relative importance of genetic and environmental factors in the
aetiology of schizophrenia.
Graeme Gordon
...poor Ophelia, divided from herself and her fair judgement without the which we arepictures or mere beasts...
Shakespeare, Hamlet
The term 'schizophrenia' (a splitting of psychic function, Strange, 1992) was first introduced in 1911 by Eugen Bleuler to denote the breakdown of integration between emotions, thought and actions. The symptoms of this disease are heterogeneous and there is still disagreement about diagnosis.
The annual incidence of schizophrenia is between 0.1 and 0.5 per 1000 depending on the diagnostic criteria used - representing a lifetime risk of 1 per cent (Strange, 1992). Onset of the disease is most commonly in late adolescence or early adulthood. In the U.S.A., schizophrenia fills more beds than almost any other illness and the financial cost of schizophrenia due to direct
medical costs, lost productivity and Social Security pensions is between $30 billion and $48 billion according to Federal figures (American Pychological Association (APA), 1996).
There are many theories about the aetiology of schizophrenia, but research has failed to pinpoint the origins. There is evidence that environmental pathogens (for example, viruses) are involved in the causation of schizophrenia. There is also evidence for a role of hereditary influences and obstetric complications on the incidence of schizophrenia. Furthermore, psychological influences have also been suggested as important in precipitating episodes of schizophrenia (for example, significant life events and interactions within the family). The symptoms and syndromes of schizophrenia are complex and very heterogeneous. Thus, the resulting theories...
To view the complete essay, you be registered.