Below are just some of the most common causes to schizophrenia and possible explanation for them.

Hereditary Causes

Schizophrenia can be a hereditary condition. Meaning, those who have a family history of schizophrenia are more likely to develop the symptoms of this condition as well. But how is this a hereditary condition? This is all explained by a number of genes, which when present in the body increases your susceptibility to acquiring schizophrenia.

However, the hereditary risk factor combined with environmental triggers further make you more susceptible to this condition. Health experts also cite reproductive or maternal genital infection to increase chances that the baby will also acquire this condition.

Male-Gender Ratio for Schizophrenia

Another factor that must be closely examined when trying to evaluate the causes of schizophrenia is the gender profile of this condition. Statistics indicate that both men and women are equally affected by this condition although it is slightly more common in men. The symptoms of this mental disorder is also believed to first manifest itself during either late teens or early 20′s for men, which is considerably early as compared to the symptoms manifestation in women.

There are no definitive conclusion that can be made about the gender profile for this condition, though. This is because there are several potential causes and risk factors that could come into play when studying this condition aside from gender causes.

Complication from Other Conditions

Schizophrenia is also considered to be a possible side effect from other conditions until it results into complication. Although it cannot be determined whether these conditions can be cited as a potential cause, it is believed that mental disorder could really happen.

What are these conditions that might have resulted to schizophrenia as a complication? These include the following:

• Lupus
• Narcotic addiction
• Cocaine addiction
• LSD addiction
• Marijuana abuse
• Crack addiction
• Huntington’s disease
• DiGeorge syndrome

Risk Factors for Schizophrenia

When it comes to determining the risk factors that contribute to the possibility of an individual acquiring schizophrenia, there are two distinct categories in which they fall under. There are the ones considered as causal risk factors, while there are natural risk factors that increase the possibility of developing schizophrenia.

Some of the causal risk factors for schizophrenia include drug abuse, emotional sensitivity, shyness, unsociability, and a family history of schizophrenia. Meanwhile, additional factors that increase the likelihood of developing this mental disorder include a lack of emotion and those who are considered as loners.

Identifying the causes and possible risk factors of schizophrenia raises awareness on who are likely to acquire this condition. Moreover, it helps you gain a better understanding of this condition to come up with an effective treatment plan.

Sadly though, this is not always a successful attempt each time. In fact, there has been several cases of undiagnosed or misdiagnosed schizophrenia in the past. Make sure you read more below to find out how this happens and how you can prevent it.

Overlooked Causes of Schizophrenia

Diagnosing schizophrenia is indeed a tough challenge given the several layers of symptoms to look out for. You need to evaluate the behavioral symptoms, analyze their physical stimuli responses, and cognitive functions before you can come up with a diagnosis.

However, it is also important to evaluate the potential causes for schizophrenia to be able to truly finalize diagnosis. Hereditary causes to schizophrenia is one of the most commonly overlooked causes out there, especially since it is not readily evident unless upon closer examination. The number of genes present in one’s genetic makeup could determine their susceptibility rate to developing this mental disorder.

Possibility of Developing Complications

Why is it so important to diagnose schizophrenia in the soonest possible time? This is because the patient could manifest any of the following complications or behavioral patterns:

• Violence (toward self or others)
• Aggression
• Tendency for substance abuse
• Suicide

Misdiagnosis

How do you determine whether a given thought is merely a different point of view or a product of your delusional thoughts? Surely, a patient suffering from schizophrenia is incapable of telling the difference between the two. However, the analysis of this particular symptom becomes more complex when you factor in the idea that not all people who are suffering from paranoid beliefs have schizophrenia.

In fact, mental health experts cite other possible diagnosis for those with paranoid personality, which is totally different from that of schizophrenia. These conditions include paranoid personality disorder, schizotypal, schizoid, among other mental disorders relating to symptoms of paranoia.

Common Reasons for Undiagnosed or Misdiagnosed Schizophrenia

Misdiagnosis is a more interesting aspect in dealing with schizophrenia out of the two. Experts point out several factors that could lead to this condition being misdiagnosed despite the fact that health experts have been trying their best to spread information about its symptoms.

One reason cited by experts is that social stigma that exists in society, thus instilling that fear in the patient’s mind. They feel embarrassed to be diagnosed with schizophrenia, such that they would rather have it to be some other mental condition or be left undiagnosed at all. As a result of denying the existence of this condition, they also deny treatment.

Another factor to consider that makes coping with schizophrenia a bit more tricky is the fact that most patients are not aware that the “voices” they are hearing out of their hallucinations or delusions are not real. This often comes as a result of their distorted view of reality, such that they cannot tell apart what is real or not. As a result, they end up accepting as real whatever it is they perceive around them.