is schizophrenia genetic?

[km.reid]

my partner and his mother both have schizophrenia.
im now worrying about my 6 year old son as his behaviour is becoming extremely difficult to cope with.
he is extremely violent towards me but is also the biggest mummys boy i know!!
he can be very loving and hates being away from me, but he also never listens to me and is always swearing and being disruptive at home and at school, i was just wondering if anyone knows if this illness is genetic?
i cant talk to my partner as i dont want to upset him or for him to feel like it is his fault.

 

[ramboghettouk]

From what i gather when they first started mapping the human genome everyone expected to fid a gene but they haven't. reading in new scientist that the current half life of genetic theories of personality is 6 months, half are disproved in 6 months and those that remian half are disproved in the next 6 months to explain half life

Personally i've stopped caring whether my ilness is genetic or not, at least if they find a gene either i've got it or i haven't

Someone once said whether things are genetic or enviroment we pass both to our children

 

[DNA]

Hello km.reid,
having studied genetics,I'm non the wiser.
Certainly from the familial studies that I've seen the results are based on observations rather than definitive facts.
The strongest link to gentics 'appears' to come from differences in the dopamine pathways (an incredibly vast subject). Deficiencies in the dopamine pathways are also linked to pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), which emcopass conditions such as ADHD, Asperger's syndrome and dyslexia. In my family we have my brother with bipolar/schizofrenia (verdict not out on which one),my son (7yrs old) with Asperger,my daughter and I with dyslexia. The one element I observe in common is: visual and auditory integration problems.

I would say that a diagnosis for schizofrenia in children would require a lot of research. I believe the prerequisite before diagnosing in children would be to conduct EEG and MRI as an imperative.

I hope you are already seing a specialist for your son's concerns. If not ask your GP to refer you to a paediatrician (preferably not a community one but a developmental one), ask for a referral to CAMHS (children and adolescent mental health services). To the school ask to speak to SENco (special educational needs coordinator) and make sure your son is on the school action or school action+.
Big hugs

 

[km.reid]

thanks

thanyou both for your quick replies.
i have read up alot about the illness, and i also havent found any 'proof' that it is genetic!
i just cant seem to work out wots going on! i have two other children and have never had any problems with them on the same level as my son, i havent been to the doctors yet as i am afraid that he will tell me its my fault! and that i should discipline him more, although it feels sometimes like thats all i do! i will definately be looking into getting some help. thankyou again for the replies.

 

[DNA]

hello again,
almost certainly along the way you'll hear the words that it is your fault,etc. I think it come with the territory of being a parent. Just go. It is your child legal right to get help. If the GP tries to fob you off, ask again:s/he is legally obliged to refer your son upon your request. Have you visited the 'parentcentre' (http://www.parentscentre.gov.uk/forum/index.cfm). there is not a section on metal health problem but if come in the education section and SEN subsection you'll find a wealth of info and support in navigating the system.

 

[Danage]

I agree.

I agree that mental illnesses are not hereditary, but if someone in the family has a mental illness it does somehow have an impact on someone else in the family.

My Granny had a mental breakdown (she works in a Unit, which is rather ironic), her daughter (my mother) had depression, but she had depression when she was living with her adoptive parents. I have psychosis, but I do not k a mental illness is hereditary entirely. Genes, I think, play a very small role, but it is ultimately no-one's fault. These things just happen.

 

[maudikie]

Geneics.

There is a lot of research into the gnetics of schizophrenia but as yet no absolute answer.
Regarding your son. You should get some help for him. I tink probably the best person to ask for a referral is the G.P. who may put you in contact with a Social worker who specialises in chldren;s problems. Look after him, and please look after yourself as you are very much needed. have you had an assessment of your own needs. If not get one. You will find a lot of inforation on www.schizophreniawatch.co.uk. It will tell you the best way to go about getting help. You must not let your boy get violent with you, don't forget he is getting bigger anf older, and any viollence needs to be nipped in the bud.
All best wishes

 

[ramboghettouk]

The point about the genetic argument is it's an alternative to that laing argument that the family cause schitzoprenia, rethink was created as an answer to laing and used to push genetics.

My family used to push genetics until my little sister had kids, theres a whole story there

Sometimes i feel that with modern research, it may one day be possible to treat a genetic illness by altering the gene, i'm not sure how you'd treat a label or whatever

 

[km.reid]

i kind of understand what you are saying, what i dont understand, in my case, is that since i have been with my partner, he has been on medication and hasnt really been depressed or any 'different' to anybody else, so i cant really see how his environment would make him behave this way.also my 2 other kids dont really play up this way.
i admit i probably give my son more attention than the other 2, but thats because he is so time consuming!
i guess im just trying to find answers that i probably already know! that i just cant get it right!!!

 

[Dollit]

Your argument that since your partner has been on medication and he hasn't been depressed therefore environment doesn't play a part? If medication works that's good but it doesn't rule out causes. I'm not sure what you're getting at except that it doesn't seem to follow logic! Perhaps I'm reading it wrong.

 

[DNA]

km.reid,
Please don't beat yourself about this. The research is too far behind to be able to give you an definitive answer.As a scientist by training,I can say that to prove something in the labs, you do so by process of elimination,so...so far the only proof is that MH is not exclusively environmental.

The mere facts that your other children are fine and that your 6yr is 'difficult' both at home and in school is indicative that both you and school have difficulty in coping with your child and not that you ''can't just get it right''. Please, go to the GP. In my experience, children who exhibit difficult behaviour and aggression tend to have an underlined reason to do so, which doesn't have to be schizophrenia. Indeed, as a general rule of thumb, if a child who has presented such behaviour before the age of 7yrs, a practitioner will exclude such diagnosis.

As a parent, this must be a very hard and confusing time for you and you are very welcome to PM me and I am more than happy to be a shoulder, a sounding board and offer help (within my limited knowledge) in navigating this incredibly difficult system.

 

[ramboghettouk]

I've been diagnosed with schitsophrenia (you'd think by now i could spell it) when my sister had her first baby a social worker friend said "That babies going to have a hard time" for a long time the child was collecting diagnoseses then he took the 11plus, another country, another story, and passes now he's 14 15 and has put it behind him.

I hope that helps, i don't really know what to say

One of my friends has a sister with schitsoprenia, as someone told her you've got to beleive in free will somewhere along the line

 

[DNA]

Hello ramboghettouk,
I am so pleased to hear your nephew is doing so well. You and your sister must be so proud.

 

[Danage]

Correction

I have psychosis, but I do not k (sic: think) a mental illness is hereditary entirely.

I also think that the possibility of finding a gene that causes psychosis will be difficult, even if it exists, which I do not believe it does

 

[Dollit]

Psychosis is to be out of touch with reality which is quite common but it's a not an illness or a disease so I don't think that it could be caused by expression of genes. A psych once told me that mental health problems, in his opinion, ran in families because, to a certain extent, families imitate one another.