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Is schizophrenia hereditary?

Schizophrenia can run in families, but it's not inherited like eye color or height. Having a family member with schizophrenia does increase your risk, but it doesn't guarantee you'll develop it.

Here's what the research shows about genetic risk:

* If one parent has schizophrenia, each child's Show Full Answer

Is schizophrenia hereditary?

Schizophrenia can run in families, but it's not inherited like eye color or height. Having a family member with schizophrenia does increase your risk, but it doesn't guarantee you'll develop it.

Here's what the research shows about genetic risk:

* If one parent has schizophrenia, each child's risk is about 10-15%
* If both parents have it, the risk increases to 35-46%
* For identical twins (who share 100% of their DNA), if one has schizophrenia, the other has a 40-50% chance
* For fraternal twins (who share about 50% of their DNA), the risk is about 1 in 8 if one twin has it

Importantly, many people diagnosed with schizophrenia have no family history of it. This shows that while genes play a role, they don't tell the whole story.

Other factors matter too, including your environment during childhood and adolescence, brain development, stressful life experiences, and certain health conditions. Scientists believe schizophrenia develops from a combination of genetic factors, environmental influences, and brain chemistry—not from genes alone.

 AI-generated responses are not a substitute for medical advice. These services are not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any condition or disease. Always ask your doctor about specific health concerns.

Schizophrenia Causes and Risk Factors: Is It Genetic?