Schizophrenia

What Increases Your Risk

Schizophrenia is a complex illness. Experts don't know what causes it or why some people get it and others don't. But some things make it more likely that a person will develop schizophrenia. These are called risk factors. Having one or more risk factors doesn't mean you will develop the illness, though.

You may be at risk for schizophrenia if:

• Your mother, father, brother, or sister has schizophrenia. But having a relative with schizophrenia doesn't mean you will develop this illness.
• Your mother had certain problems while she was pregnant with you. For example, if your mother did not get enough to eat (malnutrition), had a viral infection, or took medicines (diuretics) for high blood pressure, you may be at increased risk.⁴
• You or a family member have another disorder that is like schizophrenia. An example of this is a delusional disorder, which means you believe things that can't be proven.
• You have a problem with alcohol or drugs.³ Experts don't know whether substance abuse triggers schizophrenia or whether a person with schizophrenia is more likely to have a substance abuse problem.

Risk of relapse

If your symptoms come back, it's called a relapse. Anyone with schizophrenia can have a relapse, but it happens much more often when you don't take your medicine.¹ A relapse is likely if you stop treatment.

People sometimes stop treatment before they should when:

• They have side effects from the medicines.
• They feel better and think they no longer need medicine.
• They abuse alcohol or drugs (substance abuse).
• They don't believe they have the disease.
• They have disorganized or confusing thoughts and forget to take their medicines.
• They are afraid of or think false thoughts about treatment (paranoia or delusions).

If you are having trouble with medicine side effects or want to stop using your medicines or any other treatment for any reason, talk to your health care team first.

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Author:	Jeannette Curtis Paul Lehnert	Last Updated: August 28, 2008
Medical Review:	Steven L. Schneider, MD - Family Medicine Miklos Ferenc Losonczy, MD, PhD - Psychiatry J. David Carroll, PhD - Psychology
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