Although experts know what schizophrenia is, its symptoms, and its treatment, they are not sure if schizophrenia is caused by biological influences or if it is caused by the environment. In my opinion, schizophrenia is caused by biological influences and the environment. Research has shown if a close genetic relative has schizophrenia, the chances are higher that another relative will have schizophrenia. Children of a schizophrenic parent have a ten percent chance of developing schizophrenia, while the risk in the general population is one percent. Recent studies of twins show that biology plays a part in the acquisition of schizophrenia.
Identical twins have a higher rate of developing schizophrenia than fraternal twins.
Although the studies provide us with evidence of an inherited factor in schizophrenia, only 40 to 60 percent of the identical twins develop schizophrenia, there is room to believe that some environmental factor must be included. The family background of an individual with schizophrenia shows that the child had a history of great stress. The stress was so immense that the child escapes from an intolerable reality into a fantasy world. Unclear, and conflicting messages, criticism, and hostility are found in homes of schizophrenic children. Earlier studies showed that schizophrenia was more detectable in lower socioeconomic groups.