<p>I think reading about the <a href="http://schizophreniabulletin.oxfordjournals.org/content/26/3/699.full.pdf+html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">genain quadruplets</a> should give you a clear idea of the effect of environment on schizophrenia. Basically, the quadruplets had a genetic disposition to this disorder and all 4 siblings were admitted at some point or another to the National Institute of Mental Health as schizophrenic. However, there were differences in the severity of the disorder in all 4 siblings due to the way they were treated by their parents, showing that despite genetic dispositions to a disorder, environmental factors do affect the severity of it. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-12T22:19:08.263Z
The genain quadruplets were not, by any evidence based standard, considered to have a common genetic condition. They were used as poster children to push the idea that schizophrenia is genetic, and we still to this day inherit the assumptions made in this study. If schizophrenia is sought to be caracterised as a genetic condition, we should thoroughly discard this kind of anecdotal (yes... anecdotal) evidence in favour of stronger epidemiological evidence if available with the desired level of proof.
FDIA
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-12T22:25:00.770Z
Now indeed the genain quadruplets were heavily heavily traumatised and abused. So this evidence is nowadays retold as "look! It's trauma! Not genetics!". Such epidemiological historical twists and turns are everywhere in this nature vs nurture debate concerning schizophrenia. We should drop this evidence once and for all and attempt to track specific dissociation or delusional symptoms down to either biological determinants or psychosocial determinants. With care, IMHO, and well defined therapeutical goals at stake.
FDIA
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-20T04:20:07.767Z
2017-04-20T04:20:07.767Z
Aman Khandelwal
<p>From what I understand about the physiology of schizophrenia it is thought to be caused by chemical imbalances resulting from genetic factors, fueled by environmental factors. I've garnered that environmental factors can play a large role in how a person reacts to the disease.</p>

<p>As an example: a person with a genetic predisposition towards schizophrenia is raised in an abusive household with his parents yelling everyday, they will definitely become angry and more stressed out, which one might assume would lead to their eventual psychotic break. Is this 100% correct? Another person who might be less stressed out, probably raised in a normal family, could potentially experience troubling symptoms before a complete psychotic break. Is this a valid assumption or observed pattern in those who suffer from the disease?</p>

<p>So, if environmental factors can contribute to the onset of schizophrenia, could the removal of these factors lessen the symptoms? Take for example Jared Loughner, he will be spending life in prison. With time away from society, with the stresses of life removed, and (given the correct medication), could incarcerated schizophrenia patients' symptoms be ameliorated by this change in social situation?  </p>

<p>Any info on this?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-07-10T22:39:16.233Z
Schizophrenia covers a wide spectrum of symptoms, so I think this is difficult to answer in the general case.  If a patient is delusional, the very notion of "own willpower" becomes a bit cloudy.
Chuck Sherrington
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-07-10T22:42:48.907Z
(so, I think it's a good question as well, but a yes/no answer is going to be difficult to pin down).  John Nash is an example of someone who has done battle with the disease for decades, including trying to decrease his own levels of medication (see his synopsis of this at the end of "A Beautiful Mind") with varying degrees of success.
Chuck Sherrington
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-07-12T08:39:46.920Z
It is important to keep in mind that genetic factors are easily exaggerated. For schizophrenia, having a first-degree relative with the disorder raises the risk from below 1% to 6.5% ([article](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1914490/)), but that still means that the vast, vast majority (93.5%) of people with a first-degree relative who has schizophrenia do not develop it.
Dan M.
<neuroscience><abnormal-psychology><schizophrenia>
To what degree does environment govern the severity of symptoms in schizophrenia?
Nick
# To what degree does environment govern the severity of symptoms in schizophrenia?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-07-10)

From what I understand about the physiology of schizophrenia it is thought to be caused by chemical imbalances resulting from genetic factors, fueled by environmental factors. I've garnered that environmental factors can play a large role in how a person reacts to the disease.

As an example: a person with a genetic predisposition towards schizophrenia is raised in an abusive household with his parents yelling everyday, they will definitely become angry and more stressed out, which one might assume would lead to their eventual psychotic break. Is this 100% correct? Another person who might be less stressed out, probably raised in a normal family, could potentially experience troubling symptoms before a complete psychotic break. Is this a valid assumption or observed pattern in those who suffer from the disease?

So, if environmental factors can contribute to the onset of schizophrenia, could the removal of these factors lessen the symptoms? Take for example Jared Loughner, he will be spending life in prison. With time away from society, with the stresses of life removed, and (given the correct medication), could incarcerated schizophrenia patients' symptoms be ameliorated by this change in social situation?

Any info on this?

**Tags:** neuroscience, abnormal-psychology, schizophrenia

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Schizophrenia covers a wide spectrum of symptoms, so I think this is difficult to answer in the general case.  If a patient is delusional, the very notion of "own willpower" becomes a bit cloudy.  
> **username_1**: (so, I think it's a good question as well, but a yes/no answer is going to be difficult to pin down).  John Nash is an example of someone who has done battle with the disease for decades, including trying to decrease his own levels of medication (see his synopsis of this at the end of "A Beautiful Mind") with varying degrees of success.  
> **username_2**: It is important to keep in mind that genetic factors are easily exaggerated. For schizophrenia, having a first-degree relative with the disorder raises the risk from below 1% to 6.5% ([article](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1914490/)), but that still means that the vast, vast majority (93.5%) of people with a first-degree relative who has schizophrenia do not develop it.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2017-04-20. Score: 1

I think reading about the [genain quadruplets](http://schizophreniabulletin.oxfordjournals.org/content/26/3/699.full.pdf+html) should give you a clear idea of the effect of environment on schizophrenia. Basically, the quadruplets had a genetic disposition to this disorder and all 4 siblings were admitted at some point or another to the National Institute of Mental Health as schizophrenic. However, there were differences in the severity of the disorder in all 4 siblings due to the way they were treated by their parents, showing that despite genetic dispositions to a disorder, environmental factors do affect the severity of it.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: The genain quadruplets were not, by any evidence based standard, considered to have a common genetic condition. They were used as poster children to push the idea that schizophrenia is genetic, and we still to this day inherit the assumptions made in this study. If schizophrenia is sought to be caracterised as a genetic condition, we should thoroughly discard this kind of anecdotal (yes... anecdotal) evidence in favour of stronger epidemiological evidence if available with the desired level of proof.  
> **username_4**: Now indeed the genain quadruplets were heavily heavily traumatised and abused. So this evidence is nowadays retold as "look! It's trauma! Not genetics!". Such epidemiological historical twists and turns are everywhere in this nature vs nurture debate concerning schizophrenia. We should drop this evidence once and for all and attempt to track specific dissociation or delusional symptoms down to either biological determinants or psychosocial determinants. With care, IMHO, and well defined therapeutical goals at stake.  

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