Schizophrenia May Be In Your Genes

A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that schizophrenia has a strong genetic component, but it can also be caused by some socioeconomic factors.

A person’s risk of schizophrenia seemed to be increase if a person’s parents were socioeconomically disadvantaged.

“Their findings demonstrate that genes have a significant effect, as well as socioeconomic factors,” said Anil Malhotra, MD, chief of the division of psychiatric research at LIJ Medical Center in New Hyde Park. “Despite this, much of the risk for schizophrenia remained unexplained, and more work is needed to detect the specific factor predisposing to illness. Once these are identified, better treatments may then be developed.”

Schizophrenia treatment can include medications, talk therapy and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).