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The Epidemiology
in Schizophrenia
(01/30/01)
In the last issue from the year 2000 European
Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences presented
a special  issue
with a number of articles on the epidemiology in schizophrenia.
In conclusion the importance was stressed,
of more intensive epidemiological mapping of the occurrence of schizophrenia
in families, societies and areas in the world.
The sooner in each respective individual's
life a possible increased risk for developing the disease is discovered,
the greater are the chances to if possible prevent the outbreak.
It is already known that there is a genetic component correlated
to schizophrenia. Various forms of family studies have shown how
predispositions for the disease are inherited from generation to
generation, and lately there have been a number of reports on proofs
for genetical markers in the genome.
With increasing knowledge about disturbances in behavior, and external
characteristics in schizophrenic patients, psychiatrists and psychologists
have also learnt how to better recognize the signs of an individual
who is about to enter into a state of the disease.
These discoveries will hopefully contribute
to better chances in terms of predicting whether or not a particular
person will develop schizophrenia, and then if possible start treatment
in order to prevent the development of the disease.
Despite previous reports of no significant
differences in the incidence of the disease in socially and geograficially
different regions, a significant variation is now said to exist
between "Western"and "Third World" populations.
The prognisis for individuals who suffer from schizophrenia in more
developed countries is today considerably better than for those
who live in countries with a lower social and economic standard.
The reasons behind these phenomena are still unclear, but are believed
to be a combination of both genetical and environmental factors.
Table
of contents of the issue (250:6, 2000), with links to the listed
article abstacts
by Ulrika Kahl, PhD
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