Schizophrenia

Experts don't know what causes schizophrenia. It may have different causes for different people. In some people, brain chemistry and brain structure are not normal. Family history may play a role. And problems that harm a baby's brain during pregnancy also may help cause it.

• Genetics: Your chance of developing schizophrenia is greater if your parent, brother, or sister has the illness.¹ But most people who have a family member with schizophrenia don't develop it.
• Brain chemistry and structure: It's possible that neurotransmitters, which send messages between parts of the brain, don't work the right way in people with schizophrenia.
• Pregnancy: Schizophrenia may be related to pregnancy problems that can harm a baby's developing brain and nervous system.¹ These problems include poor nutrition or a viral infection during pregnancy.

Schizophrenia is not caused by anything you did, by personal weakness or bad choices, or by the way your parents raised you.

More research is needed to understand what causes schizophrenia.