Genetics:

• STRENGTH:

  • strong evidence base
  • Family studies such as Gottesman show that risk increases with genetic similarity to a family member with schizophrenia
  • Adoption studies ie Tienari et al show that biological children of parents with schizophrenia are at heightened risk even if they grow up in an adoptive family

  This shows that some people are more vulnerable to schizophrenia as a result of their genetic make-up
• X

  • Clear evidence to show that environmental factors also increase the risk of developing schizophrenia
  • Environmental factors include biological and psychological influences
  • Bio risk factors: birth complications (Morgan et al)
  • Psych factors: childhood trauma which leaves them vulnerable to adult mental health problems now there's evidence for a link with schizo
  • Morkved et al 67% of people with schizo and related psychotic disorders reported at least one childhood trauma as opposed to 38% of a matched group with non-psychotic issues

  Genetics alone cannot provide a complete explanation