"Schizophrenia affects young people in the prime of their lives. It is a major set-back in their plans and hopes for the future."
-- Dr. Ian Falloon
Q. What are my chances of developing schizophrenia?
A. There is no way of knowing exactly who will get schizophrenia. However, about 1 in 100 people worldwide have the illness. Since schizophrenia tends to run in families, your chances may be higher if someone in your family has the disease. For example, it is estimated that:
If one of your parents or a brother or sister is ill, the risk factor is about 10%
If both your parents are ill, your chances are about 40%
If a nonidentical twin is ill, your chances are 10-15%
If an identical twin is ill, your chances are 35-50%
If you are a grandchild, niece, nephew, aunt or uncle of someone who is ill, your chances are about 3%.
Schizophrenia does not discriminate between the sexes. Young men and women are equally at risk for developing the illness.
O. Can children develop schizophrenia?
A. Yes. In rare instances, children as young as five have been diagnosed with the illness. They are often described as being different from other children from an early age. Most people with schizophrenia, however, do not show recognizable symptoms until adolescence or young adulthood.
Q. How can I tell if I have schizophrenia before it becomes serious?
A. If you think you have symptoms of schizophrenia, you should talk to a doctor who has experience treating the illness. This is very important because early diagnosis and treatment means a better long-term prognosis.
Q. If I have schizophrenia, should I have children?
A. Schizophrenia tends to run in families, but that doesn't necessarily mean you should not marry and have children. Since everyone wants to be a good parent and provider for their family, you will need to ask yourself some important questions:
Is my illness sufficiently under control? If I have to work full-time in order to support my children, can I do it?
Will the stress and expense of raising children cause me to become ill again?
What if my children inherit the illness? (The chance of each of your children developing schizophrenia is 1 in 10. If your partner also has schizophrenia, the chance of each child developing the illness increases to 2 in 5.)
Is my partner a capable person who can help provide a secure and peaceful home environment for a child?
