Etiology of Schizophrenia

Many researchers now believe that schizophrenia may result from the interaction of one or more causative factors. In fact, although schizophrenia is often referred to as a single disease, it can be thought of as a group of disorders that have different causes but similar symptoms. The various possible causes of schizophrenia can be grouped into the following general categories:

• genetic
• biological/environmental
• psychosocial

Because individual factors within these categories may interact in subtle or complex ways, it is difficult to evaluate specific causes. In general, inherited genetic factors and biological/environmental factors are now believed to be most important in causing schizophrenia, while psychosocial factors may be more important in affecting the onset and course of the disease.