Schizophrenia Risk Factors: Environmental and Substance Use

0
9KB

Environmental

Environmental factors, each associated with a slight risk of developing schizophrenia in later life include oxygen deprivation, infection, prenatal maternal stress, and malnutrition in the mother during prenatal development. A risk is associated with maternal obesity, in increasing oxidative stress, and dysregulating the dopamine and serotonin pathways. Both maternal stress and infection have been demonstrated to alter fetal neurodevelopment through an increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines. There is a slighter risk associated with being born in the winter or spring possibly due to vitamin D deficiency or a prenatal viral infection. Other infections during pregnancy or around the time of birth that have been linked to an increased risk include infections by Toxoplasma gondii and Chlamydia. The increased risk is about five to eight percent. Viral infections of the brain during childhood are also linked to a risk of schizophrenia during adulthood.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), severe forms of which are classed as childhood trauma, range from being bullied or abused, to the death of a parent. Many adverse childhood experiences can cause toxic stress and increase the risk of psychosis. Chronic trauma, including ACEs, can promote lasting inflammatory dysregulation throughout the nervous system. It is suggested that early stress may contribute to the development of schizophrenia through these alterations in the immune system. Schizophrenia was the last diagnosis to benefit from the link made between ACEs and adult mental health outcomes.

Living in an urban environment during childhood or as an adult has consistently been found to increase the risk of schizophrenia by a factor of two, even after taking into account drug use, ethnic group, and size of social group. A possible link between the urban environment and pollution has been suggested to be the cause of the elevated risk of schizophrenia. Other risk factors include social isolation, immigration related to social adversity and racial discrimination, family dysfunction, unemployment, and poor housing conditions. Having a father older than 40 years, or parents younger than 20 years are also associated with schizophrenia.

Substance use

About half of those with schizophrenia use recreational drugs, including cannabis, tobacco, and alcohol excessively. Use of stimulants such as amphetamine and cocaine can lead to a temporary stimulant psychosis, which presents very similarly to schizophrenia. Rarely, alcohol use can also result in a similar alcohol-related psychosis. Drugs may also be used as coping mechanisms by people who have schizophrenia, to deal with depression, anxiety, boredom, and loneliness. The use of cannabis and tobacco are not associated with the development of cognitive deficits, and sometimes a reverse relationship is found where their use improves these symptoms. However, substance use disorders are associated with an increased risk of suicide, and a poor response to treatment.

Cannabis use may be a contributory factor in the development of schizophrenia, potentially increasing the risk of the disease in those who are already at risk. The increased risk may require the presence of certain genes within an individual. Its use is associated with doubling the rate.

Search
Nach Verein filtern
Read More
Life Issues
Mary and Max. (2009)
A tale of friendship between two unlikely pen pals: Mary, a lonely, eight-year-old girl living in...
Von Leonard Pokrovski 2023-04-07 20:47:17 0 23KB
Television
PLAYTV by Brightcove.
Learn how to navigate all types of communication with PLAYTV by Brightcove. Featuring a curated...
Von Nikolai Pokryshkin 2023-05-13 12:52:08 0 30KB
Running
The Art and Science of Sports Running: A Journey of Endurance and Achievement
Running, the fundamental act of propelling oneself swiftly on foot, transcends mere physical...
Von Dacey Rankins 2024-07-08 15:24:40 0 17KB
Жизненные вопросы
Перед рассветом. Before Sunrise. (1995)
Молодой американец Джесси знакомится в поезде с красивой француженкой Селин. Они сразу находят...
Von Nikolai Pokryshkin 2023-03-19 14:14:00 0 22KB
Business
Neural networks for business and how to work with them
What are neural networks? Imagine that you need to develop a program that will automatically...
Von Dacey Rankins 2024-09-11 12:23:41 0 6KB
image/svg+xml


BigMoney.VIP Powered by Hosting Pokrov