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About 1 of every 100 people develops schizophrenia; 1 of every 50 develops some other psychotic illness. People with relatives who have schizophrenia have a slightly greater risk than others: the closer the relative, the greater the risk. You are at highest risk if you have an identical twin who has it. However, not all twins who have identical genes share this illness, so that proves that genes may play a role, but they are not the only factor responsible for the illness. If it were just a matter of genes, then if one identical twin got schizophrenia, the other always would too; in reality, this only happens in about half the cases.
Other factors that may play a role in who gets or doesn't get the illness are changes in the development of the brain in utero due to exposure to viruses, toxins, or lack of nutrients at critical periods. Stressors in early adulthood can play a role, too.
We still don't completely understand what causes schizophrenia. Many researchers think it may actually be different illnesses, with different origins, lumped together under one diagnostic label. Until we understand all this better, it will continue to be very hard to determine the likelihood that any given individual will get the illness.
Founded in January 2009, the Center for Excellence in Community Mental Health is part of the Department of Psychiatry in the School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Addressing quality of care and workforce development issues in North Carolina's mental health system, the Center and its clinical programs are supported by a three-year grant from The Duke Endowment, as well as Cross Area Services Program (CASP)
funds. The program operates in conjunction with multiple university, state, and community-based partners.
© 2010 UNC CMH
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