Guardian Op-Ed Piece on Schizophrenia

[Hussein]

Hello all,


Has anyone read the Guardian piece on schizophrenia? It is quite an interesting one because the writer tries to play down the genetic influence in the development of the condition. He brings quite a few important facts to the table, for example,

On its own, simply having a greater genetic risk (because of schizophrenia in the biological mother) did not increase the likelihood that the child would develop schizophrenic symptoms. Genes alone did not cause the illness. However, if there was a high genetic risk and it was combined with mystifying care during upbringing, the likelihood was greater. This suggests that genes can be implicated, but only if the family environment is of the kind that fulfills schizophrenic genetic potential.

Therefore, only if you have the genes and the environment will you develop the condition.

 

[Hussein]

I wouldn't trust those who attempt to compute percentages of the form X% nurture and Y% nature. For example in psychology, when it comes to intelligence, on one extreme, some say that it is 80% nature and 20% nurture and at the other extreme 100% nurture. psychology and sociology are the sorts of subject which you can't say for certain what is true sometimes.

 

[bluenow]

If one identical twin has schizophrenia, then there is a 30-50 percent chance that the other twin will have it. That isn't 100 percent which means it's not all genetics, because they have the same DNA. But it is a lot higher than the normal populations chance which is 1 percent.
I don't remember but assume that most of the twins studied where probably raised in the same family. Of course people living in the same family have different experiences. But according to other sources I have read, the "mystifying care" must be extremely bad living conditions.

 

[Hussein]

Yeah, I would guess that loads of mental illnesses including shyness, social phobia, schizophrenia, depression etc. are partially determined by genetics and also partially environmental.

Good news is that if it is not 100% genetic then we all have a chance of being cured! Hallelujah!!!

 

[Hussein]

The reason why most aren't cured of SA or shyness or anything of the sort is because they don't go to their doctor about it. People only go to their doctor is because they are physically ill not mentally till.

I can't find it, but I think there was an article in some newspaper (I think the health section of the Guardian) which said that most people who are shy, are too shy to see their doctor!

The reason why I said "Hallelujah!!!" was because we know that our mental illnesses are caused by nurture and can therefore be cured by nurture.