Epidemiology and Etiology of Schizophrenia

Prevalence

Approximately 1% of the population affected.

Gender Differences

Men and women affected equally in prevalence.

Women's Prognosis

Women have better outcomes than men.

Age of Onset

Women develop schizophrenia at a later age.

Hospitalization Frequency

Women hospitalized less frequently than men.

Hospitalization Duration

Women hospitalized for shorter periods.

Negative Symptoms

Women exhibit milder negative symptoms.

Social Adjustment

Women show better social adjustment when not psychotic.

Cultural Influence

Delusions vary across cultures and upbringing.

Prognosis in Developing Countries

Better prognosis and lower prevalence observed.

Urbanicity

Urban living linked to increased schizophrenia risk.

Sociogenic Hypothesis

Urban stressors contribute to schizophrenia development.

Social Drift Hypothesis

Schizophrenia symptoms lead to downward social drift.

Population Density

Higher genetic risk individuals live in urban areas.

Structural Abnormalities

Enlarged ventricles linked to severe schizophrenia.

Prefrontal Cortex

Smaller and hypoactive in individuals with schizophrenia.

Hippocampus

Reduced volume associated with stress sensitivity.

Synaptic Pruning

Abnormal pruning reduces synapses in schizophrenia.

Dopamine Activity

High dopamine linked to positive schizophrenia symptoms.

Perinatal Hypoxia

30% of schizophrenia patients had oxygen deprivation.

Prenatal Infection

Influenza exposure increases schizophrenia risk in offspring.

Expressed Emotion

High EE environments lead to poor prognosis.

Relapse Rates

58% relapse in high EE homes vs. 10% low.