Prenatal Nongenetic Factors

Prenatal non-genetic factors that occur before, during, and after birth and how they can effect schizophrenia later in life: Factoring in the internal and external nongenetic factors of pregnancy that have been related to know cases of schizophrenia including, but not limited to, maternal diabetes, low birth weight, older paternal age, winter birth, and prenatal maternal stress. These may be some of the risk factors associated with schizophrenia developing, many other factors and causes of this disease or unknown.

Schizophrenia is a very complicated psychiatric disorder that effects approximately 1% of the population. A clear genetic component has been established that is linked to schizophrenia, but according to research, there is still much to be learned about this gene. Early

The development of the nervous system being comprised may likely be some of the causes of how and why schizophrenia develops in some and not others. The likelihood of developing schizophrenia is 2% higher in someone who was exposed to stress and other complications during pregnancy. Complications can include abnormal fetal growth and development, complications during delivery, and other complications during pregnancy. Any complication that compromises oxygen to the fetus, thus comprising the right development of the nervous system could be a cause during the prenatal development of a baby. Low birth weight or being born under 4.4 pounds is another risk factor and has been seen in increased cases of schizophrenia. Men over 35 fathering children may have increased their child's risk of developing schizophrenia, although research on a woman's age at the time of conception and birth have not brought about the same results. Although much is still to be learned about being born during the season of winter, it has been determined that being born during the winter months, in combination with some other factors, can greatly increase one's chance of developing