Is schizophrenia hereditary?
yes schizophrenia is hereditary., but usually skips a generation. males can be schizophrenic as young as 16 and quite often around 18 to 24. early detection is a good idea. perhaps it would be a good idea to educate yourself about schizophrenia so you may be able to understand your father better, and to help you. today there are a lot of better medications, than when your father was diagnosed. and people today can live a fairly normal life with the proper treatment. schizophrenia also can be severe or mild. try not to worry too much if you get it, as you may never get it at all don”t be afraid if you see some of symptoms of schizophrenia in yourself we all have some of these symptoms but it depends on degree or the severity. you could check with your fathers doctor too that might put u at ease.
Answered by Irving I. Gottesman, Ph.D.: The question requires a book-length answer to do justice to the information. I have written such a book (Schizophrenia Genesis, W.H. Freeman & Company, 1991), and it is in the recommended reading list for this American Experience program. I have co-authored an informational guide, “Schizophrenia & Genetic Risks,” which is available in the primary sources section of this Web site. It is the accumulation of facts, all converging on the conclusion that genetic factors, currently unspecified at the level of the genes themselves, and environmental factors, currently unspecifiable, combine in some fashion over time to produce this severe disorder in our species.
Hello Leila, I also agree with one of the female Top contributors…there is no as yet conclusive genetic blueprint been worked out for diseases such as schizophrenia or even bi-polar disorder (foremely manic-depression)…even though many psychological studies…in clinical and academic medicine and pschology would like the public to believe that this uncerainty is an established fact…. 1. It has not been conclusively established….and widely accepted medical certainty that a schizophrenic gene exists…nor bi-polar gene nor same sex or (homo-sexual gene). 2. Thre is however a strong correlation( a statistical association) with mathematical significance between previous and succeeding familial generations… I tend to believe …like others…. in the face of ‘evidence beyond reasonable doubt’…that the gene hypothesis remains just that to date (a hypothesis) i.e. one or ‘a’ theory that has yet to be ‘proven’ true or ‘proven’ false…. In other words ‘proof’ is a must (pre-requisi
My mother is a schizophrenic with severe depression. She is institutionalized. I never grew up with her but I am aware of her now. I have always feared that this disease was hereditary. Is it? Sometimes I forget things or I feel as if I am losing it, and I don’t know if it is just a mental thing because I know about my mom.
