Schizophrenia can begin as early as infancy but more often starts during adolescence or early adulthood (Prinel, 2006, 449). It is communicated genetically but is also aggravated by environmental factors, such as stress (Kring, et al., 2006). Relatives of patients with schizophrenia are more predisposed to the disorder (Ibid). Further, they may not only have the same genes but may also share the same experiences (Ibid). Studies have shown that while schizophrenia may only affect 1% of the population, the incidence of inheriting this disorder rises to 10% among close biological relatives (i.e., in a parent, a child or a sibling) (Prinel, 2006, 450).
However, the development of schizophrenia is not attributed merely to genetic factors. Even though a person may be predisposed to the disorder, the environment in which he lives in plays a defining role in the activation of the disorder (Prinel, 2006). Family related factors, such as stress in the household may act as a trigger for the disorder (Kring, et al., 2007). A case in point, mothers who were characterized as "rejecting, overprotective, self-sacrificing, impervious to the feelings of others, rigid and moralistic to sex, and fearful of intimacy" were said to induce the development of schizophrenia (Kring, et al., 2007, 369).
Although, this notion has been questioned, the link of families in the development of schizophrenia is strong. Families of schizophrenics communicate vaguely with each other and exhibit greater levels of conflict than families...
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