Can childhood trauma cause schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a serious mental health condition that changes the perception of the person's reality with the disorder. Someone with schizophrenia may experience altered reality in the form of hallucinations, delusions, and other symptoms. These symptoms can feel extremely frightening for the person experiencing them and for their loved ones.

Symptoms of schizophrenia include:

• Hallucinations, which involve either seeing or hearing things that aren’t real. The person having the hallucinations experiences them as though they are very real and reacts to them as if they are. While any of the five senses can be involved in hallucinations, hearing tends to be the more prominent form of hallucination.
• Delusions are false beliefs without a basis in reality. Believing that certain things are directed at you, such as comments from a celebrity on television, are forms of delusion.
• Disorganized speech, which reflects underlying disorganized thinking. Communication becomes impaired, and words or answers to questions may not make sense.
• Abnormal motor behavior like agitation, inappropriate silliness, or even assuming unmoving or strange poses can occur.
• Inability to maintain eye contact, inappropriate facial expression, flat affect like speaking in monotone, and loss of interest in daily activities.

Many studies have documented the changes in the brain that can occur as a result of abuse and trauma in childhood. Some of these studies have documented changes that may contribute to the development of serious mental health conditions, including schizophrenia. Decreased grey matter in the brain and alterations of white matter in the brain have been detected in those with schizophrenia and who have experienced childhood trauma.

Generally, evidence shows that a combination of genetics and environment contribute to the development of schizophrenia. A family history of schizophrenia, exposure to psychotropic drugs during brain development, and malnutrition or exposure to viruses before birth all appear to increase the risk of schizophrenia.

Treatment of schizophrenia is imperative. While schizophrenia is a serious illness, it can be managed with proper treatment, and quality of life is improved. Treatment typically involves both medication and psychotherapy. Often, in addition to individual therapy, family therapy that is educational and supportive is recommended to help both those with the condition and their loved ones.

If you’re experiencing symptoms of schizophrenia, talk with your doctor about your concerns.