“Is schizophrenia hereditary?”

Symptoms of schizophrenia usually show up in teens or early twenties so it is unlikely that your husband will develop this. However, it is genetic so talk with your doctor about this.

Schizophrenia is not hereditary. However, people with a family history of this illness have a greater chance of becoming schizophrenic. It depends in part on lifestyle. A healthy life with minimum stress, moderate use of alcohol, loving family, etc., will most likely prevent developing schizophrenia. Most men become schizophrenic between 18 to 30 y/o. It is rare to be diagnosed with schizophrenia later in life for men. Women age bracket is late twenties to 40. Early signs of schizophrenia are: less frequent bathing, being detached, apathetic, isolated, etc.

There are several factors involved in the causation of schizophrenia. These include genetic predisposition, stress, environmental factors, and trauma. It is difficult to predict if your husband will develop schizophrenia. Remember there are also residency factors (factors that can prevent onset of mental illness) such as developing healthy coping skills, good stress management techniques, healthy diet, good sleep patterns, exercise, developing warm and loving relationships.

Schizophrenia has been around for a long time and has been studied extensively. Most authors feel there is some genetic component but differ on the number. A general consensus ranges between 5-10%.. even with that percentage there is a wide variety of treatments available- ranging mg from psychotherapy to very effective medications. Check with your local psychiatrist.

Schizophrenia has a strong genetic component. There is a study called "The adopted away study," which has been observing identical twins who were adopted to different families at birth. The study has looked at many illnesses for decades. If one identical twin has schizophrenia, there is a 50% chance that the other identical twin, raised in a completely different family and environment, will develop schizophrenia. That tells us 2 things: 1) There is a strong genetic component to schizophrenia, and 2) If 50% are not developing schizophrenia, it means that there is something other than genetics that plays a big role.

It is estimated at 40%. It typically begins in teenage years or earlier. Absolute latest age is 45.

Some forms of schizophrenia is inherited -- called process schizophrenia. It’s less than 1 percent. Studies in twins is more. The monozygotic twins is high, but dizygotic (fraternal) is less.
Unfortunately, in the time of your husband's father, they diagnosed Bipolar 1 as schizophrenia. So don’t worry about your fears. Your intelligence can be satisfied by a psychiatric consult from a wise psychiatrist.

Hello! In order to be better able to answer your question I need more information regarding your husband and his family. Does he suffer from any medical condition?! Is he currently taking any medications?! Besides his father is there anybody else in the family who currently suffers or has suffered from this condition. Just to give you a preliminary answer for the purpose of easing your mind before you respond and I respond back , schizophrenia is a condition in which research has shown a strong genetic correlation. If his father is the only one in the family who has suffered from it, and your husband is above the age of 35 it is unlikely that he will develop it. I remember the chief attending from the psychiatry program in my medical school saying this words: “A person may be born with a COCKTAIL of genetic predisposition for whichever psychiatric disorder , but if the person was born in a privileged family, privileged environment that person will not develop anything. On the other hand if the person was hadabsolutely NO genetic predisposition and was born a in a very disadvantaged, adverse socieconomic situation, he was much more predisposed to develop the disease than the one who actually carried the gene.

Genetic plays an important role in schizophrenia as well, which usually starts in late teens or early 20's. I don't know his age? Late onset is very rare. If he is working and functioning well in life, please don't worry.

All the best.

Just as many physical illnesses, like BP, Diabetes can run through families, same can be true for mental illnesses to run through generations. It does not necessarily show itself in every generation and if present, will generally start by the age of 15-16 in guys and a little later in females. If there is a family history of Schizophrenia, then at least read about it to know how it presents.