Summary
Schizophrenia is a disorder of major public health concern both in terms of occurrence and cost. It affects approximately 1% of the population. Although the causes and pathogenesis of schizophrenia are not known in any detail, there is strong evidence that both genetic and ‘environmental’ risk factors are important in the aetiology of this disease. Environmental risk factors include: urban birth, urban upbringing, seasonal birth, influenza, infections during pregnancy, obstetric complications and higher risk in lower social classes. The condition is often chronic even though progress has been made both in psychopharmacological treatment and in psychosocial interventions. The patient’s ability to work is often impaired, and schizophrenia is associated with increased mortality both from suicide and natural causes of death.
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About the Author: Preben Bo Mortensen is a senior scientist at the Department of Psychiatric Demography where he conducts studies in psychiatric epidemiology, especially within the fields of schizophrenia and affective disorders as well as general studies of the epidemiology of suicide.
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Mortensen, P.B. Schizophrenia in Society. Dis-Manage-Health-Outcomes 2, 77–84 (1997). https://doi.org/10.2165/00115677-199702020-00003
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00115677-199702020-00003