Research Paper: Genetics in Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that people acquire at birth. It is characterized by seizures, hallucinations and hearing of voices by those affected. Their mental reasoning is largely affected by the disorder. It is not very evident during the early stages of life but becomes more conspicuous as a person approaches adolescence escalating in adulthood (Propping 171). There are several causes of schizophrenia with genetics being a major contributor to the condition. This paper explains the relationship between schizophrenia and genetics.

Most people with schizophrenia usually have a family history of the condition. Chances of acquiring the disorder are higher for people whose parents are affected or have siblings suffering from the condition (Schneider and Deldin 371). It can also be traced back to past hereditary relationships with no direct connection to the affected individual. It is important that people understand the history of the condition in their families to help them monitor symptoms. The condition is highly linked to hereditary factors.

Schizophrenia can also be as a result of genetic mutations within an individual. People may be exposed to environments that cause mutation of their genes thus resulting in the condition (Rees, ODonovan and Owen 8). There are substances capable of interfering with the normal composition of chromosomes leading to schizophrenia. Such include radiations and prolonged illnesses. They send different messages when coding is done in the body causing the mutations. A person can thus acquire the condition even though there is no history of it in their lineage.

Schizophrenia can also develop before a child is born. If the expectant mother engages in use of strong substances such as marijuana, the infants brain development can be interfered with resulting in the condition (Gejman, Sanders and Duan 35). The child is thus born with the mental disorder. Research shows that the brains of those with the condition usually have spaces indicating underdevelopment of some of the brain parts. This condition can further be transmitted to their offspring (Gejman, Sanders and Duan 36). There are also drugs that interfere with the brain functions resulting to development of schizophrenia.

Through studies, it has been proven that schizophrenia is largely as a result of various organs of the body malfunctioning. Even though the brain is affected, the problems do not arise from the brain (McGuffin et al. 13). There are several vital body parts that undergo genetic variations causing the condition. The variations converge at the brain distorting its normal functioning. The malfunctioning of the brain can always be traced back to the various organs.

The chemicals responsible for communicating information to the brain are also different for people with schizophrenia. This contributes to the variations in how their brains function in relation to that of others. The differences escalate as the person grows older. The composition at birth and that during their death is normally different.

Though schizophrenia is hereditary, there are ways of managing it. People with the condition can go for regular chemotherapy to help stabilize how their bodies react. Identifying the condition in its initial stages is also important for better management (McGuffin et al. 13). People should understand the signs and symptoms of this condition and work towards ensuring that they get remedies for the patients.

Works Cited

Gejman, Pablo V., Alan R. Sanders, and Jubao Duan. "The Role of Genetics in the Etiology Of Schizophrenia." Psychiatric Clinics of North America 33.1 (2010): 35-66. Web. 3 Nov. 2017.

McGuffin, Peter et al. "Genetics and Affective Changes in Schizophrenia." Depression in Schizophrenics (1989): 13-28. Web. 3 Nov. 2017.

Propping, P. "Genetics of Schizophrenia: Discussion." Search for the Causes of Schizophrenia (1990): 171-173. Web. 3 Nov. 2017.

Rees, Elliott, Michael C ODonovan, and Michael J Owen. "Genetics Of Schizophrenia." Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences 2 (2015): 8-14. Web. 3 Nov. 2017.

Schneider, Franz, and Patricia J. Deldin. "Genetics and Schizophrenia." Comprehensive Handbook of Psychopathology 371-402. Web. 3 Nov. 2017.