There are many factors that normally contribute to the onset of schizophrenia

• The actual causes of schizophrenia are not fully understood.
• Brain chemistry:
• Abnormal functioning of neurotransmitters such as dopamine can cause schizophrenia.
• Heredity:
• Schizophrenia tends to run in families. If a parent has the disorder, the offsprings are susceptible to the disease.
• Abnormality in the brain:
• Abnormalities such as shrinkage in brain, or circuitry dysfunction can cause schizophrenia.
• Complications during pregnancy and birth:
• Chances of a child getting Schizophrenia are increased by infection or malnutrition during pregnancy and complications during birth such as brain injury.

There are no definite preventive measures. However, early identification and treatment helps to control the symptoms.

The treatment includes medications and psychotherapy.

Medication

Antipsychotics: Drugs which are used for treating symptoms of psychosis such as hallucinations, delusions and disordered thinking.

Olanzapine . Aripiprazole . Paliperidone . Blonanserin . Risperidone . Quetiapine . Haloperidol . Flupenthixol . Zuclopenthixol . Clozapine