it is generally accepted that there is a genetic component schizophrenia but size of the effect is unclear
studies of monozygotic twins have shown concordance rates in the development of schizophrenia varying between 30% and 60%
the concordance rate in dizygotic twins is 10-15%
pre-morbid "schizoid" personality is associated with the development of schizophrenia:
schizoid traits include abnormal shyness, hypochondriasis, fanaticism and eccentricity
childhood experiences
biochemical factors - LSD and amphetamines can both produce schizophrenic-like psychoses
physical factors - illnesses, operations, accidents or periods of reduced sleep can precipitate an acute schizophrenic psychosis or cause remission in an established schizophrenic
life events such as bereavement or loss of a job, may precipitate onset or remission of schizophrenia
cerebral tissue damage - head injury, cerebral tumour, Huntington's chorea and Wilson's disease occasionally produce schizophrenia-like disorders; temporal lobe epilepsy is associated with an increased incidence of schizophrenia; some schizophrenics have large ventricles
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