Neural correlates

• Strength of the genetic explanation


  There is evidence to support it
• Evidence for genetic explanation


  • Family studies show risk increases with genetic similarity to a family member with schizophrenia
  • Adoption studies find biological children of parents with schizophrenia are at heightened risk even if they grow up with an adoptive family
• Some people are more vulnerable to schizophrenia as a result of their genetic make-up
• Strength of the genetic explanation

  It could be useful for genetic counselling
• Genetic counselling


  • Potential parents with a relative with schizophrenia can be advised of risk of having a child with schizophrenia
• Genetic counselling only provides a crude idea of vulnerability and is of limited use
• Limitation of the genetic explanation


  Clear evidence that environmental factors also increase the risk of developing schizophrenia
• Environmental risk factors for schizophrenia


  • Biological: birth complications, smoking THC-rich cannabis in teenage years
  • Psychological: childhood trauma
• Genetic factors alone cannot provide a complete explanation for schizophrenia