BREAKTHROUGH ON SCHIZOPHRENIA

For the first time, psychiatrists have enough knowledge to predict who will
likely develop schizophrenia - a mental illness that hits one in 100 young
people worldwide in their teens and 20s, and fills more psychiatric
hospital beds than any other disorder.

And some of the risk factors may be a real surprise for parents.

Dr. Robin Murray, of Maudsley Hospital in London, England, told the World
Congress on Mental Health in Vancouver yesterday that having a group of
about 20 genes is only one predisposing factor for the illness.

Schizophrenia is characterized by hallucinations, faulty thought patterns
and paranoia.

Until recently, scientists thought one or several genes caused schizophrenia.

But Murray says there are no "big genes" for schizophrenia but rather 20 or
more other genes of relatively small effect.

It's when these genes interact with one or more of the following other
factors that the person becomes psychotic:

* The child's mother has pregnancy complications, depriving the baby's
brain of oxygen at crucial points. This creates subtle differences in the
brain's structures and nerve circuits.

* The mother is pregnant in winter when she is more likely to have suffered
a vitamin deficiency or exposure to infection.

* The child was born and raised in a city. Scientists theorize that the
stress of social isolation that city life can cause, is a reason.

* The individual used amphetamines, cocaine or marijuana which triggers the
illness by releasing the brain chemical dopamine.

* Studies show immigrants have six times higher risk of the disorder than
non-immigrants because of social isolation and feelings of alienation.

Studies have found that victims are more likely to be slower in learning to
crawl, walk and speak.

They also are more likely to have speech difficulties in childhood and tend
to be more solitary - often happier playing by themselves.

They become increasingly alienated, develop social anxiety and have more
odd ideas than the average teen.

Murray said by identifying vulnerable children, more may be done to help
the child.