Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders — Frequency and Risk Factors

An alumnus of the University of Illinois and Brown University, Dr. Robert Kohn focuses on treatment of the elderly and persons with developmental impairments via research and clinical psychiatry. As a psychiatrist, Dr. Robert Kohn is also experienced in diagnosing and treating various mental conditions such as schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders are chronic and severe mental illnesses that impair the lives of 26 million individuals worldwide, with 60 percent of cases resulting in moderate or severe impairment. Delusions, hallucinations, disorganized behavior, disordered speech, and negative symptoms are the main clinical presentations of schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia ranks fifth among men and sixth among women as a main cause of years lived with disability, owing to their early onset and devastating impact. Schizophrenic disorders account for about 1 percent of the global burden of disease (GBD), which is a moderate to high proportion. They also account for 1.3 percent of all disability-adjusted life years (DALYs).

The cause of schizophrenia is assumed to be a combination of biological and environmental factors. While there is no known etiology for schizophrenia, genetic, psychological, and social variables are likely to have a role in the disease’s progression. A family history of schizophrenia, an autoimmune disorder, or drug abuse during adolescence and early adulthood are all risk factors for schizophrenia. Also, schizophrenia has been connected to complications during pregnancy or childbirth. This includes uterine exposure to viruses or poisons, low birth weight, preterm labor, and oxygen deprivation during delivery. In urban areas with highly significant income disparity, higher incidences of schizophrenia are reported among low-income households.