that maternal exposure to viruses and toxins during pregnancy, and around the time of conception are linked to a later risk of psychotic disorders in offspring.
Childhood Trauma
Childhood trauma or adversities such as physical and psychological maltreatment, childhood sexual abuse, parental loss or divorce, parental substance abuse and poverty increase the risk for developing schizophrenia later in life.
Those with childhood traumas are three times more likely to have the disorder. Also, the more severe the childhood trauma, the more severe the subsequent symptoms of the illness.
Urban Living
Growing up and/or living in an urban environment has frequently been associated with an increased risk of schizophrenia or psychosis.
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The proposed reasons for this include greater exposure to infections, maternal obstetrical complications, social deprivation and income inequality, but these have not been verified.
Social Isolation
Research has shown that social isolation and poor or disrupted relationships during childhood, teen and the early adult years increase the risk of schizophrenia.
Social isolation and loneliness may directly increase anxiety and depression, and can exacerbate symptoms of psychosis.
It has also been found that first-episode psychosis patients are more likely to live alone or be single.
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If you have one or more of these risk factors, this does not necessarily signal that you’ll develop schizophrenia.
The causes of schizophrenia are multifactorial, and affected individuals have a genetic predisposition, and then encounter one or more of the environmental risk factors mentioned above.
