Environmental Connections: A Deeper Look into Mental Illness
2007
Environmental Connections: A Deeper Look into Mental Illness
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Schmidt Charles W.
Hypothesis
Can environmental factors contribute to the development of mental illnesses?
Conclusion
Environmental factors play a significant role in the etiology of mental illnesses, suggesting potential preventive measures.
Supporting Evidence
- Identical twins show that if one has schizophrenia, the other has less than a 50% chance of developing it, indicating environmental influences.
- Research suggests that urban birth increases the risk of schizophrenia by about 50%.
- Maternal starvation during pregnancy has been linked to a doubled risk of schizophrenia in offspring.
Takeaway
Things around us, like stress and our environment, can make us feel sad or anxious, just like our genes can.
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