| History tells us that for very long periods that took | | | | can be the reason why delusions and hallucinations |
| centuries, people have argued about the causes of | | | | appear. |
| mental illnesses like schizophrenia. Those who had | | | | It is also suspected that schizophrenia can be caused |
| mental illnesses were categorized as being insane or | | | | by an imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain. |
| mad, but there were cases when it was thought | | | | Neurotransmitters are chemicals that carry electrical |
| even that they were possessed by evil spirits. It is | | | | messages between nerve cells and if there is too |
| known that in many situations, these persons | | | | much or too little of a neurotransmitter, this may lead |
| suffering from mental illnesses were beaten, tortured, | | | | to various mental disorders, including schizophrenia. |
| or locked up in special facilities. | | | | However, scientists did not reach to an agreement if |
| Some time ago, scientists believed that mental | | | | these theories are correct, or if schizophrenia is |
| disorders could appear because of stressful or | | | | caused by a combination of factors. |
| traumatic conditions in a person’s life, and | | | | It is known that most schizophrenic patients have |
| psychiatrists said that a neglected or abused child for | | | | symptoms, even if there are a few which |
| example can have a higher risk of developing some | | | | haven’t. Very often there can appear delusions |
| mental disorders. | | | | and hallucinations, and these can also include hearing |
| Nowadays, scientists generally agree that the disease | | | | imaginary voices. |
| is biological and not caused by life experiences, but | | | | Insertion, also known as withdrawal of thought is |
| there are several theories about what does cause | | | | another common symptom; the patients often |
| the illness. | | | | believe that someone or something can put thoughts |
| It was seen that if someone has schizophrenic | | | | in their head, or take them out. They can also have |
| relatives, it has a ten time bigger chance to develop | | | | other strange beliefs, like the aliens talk to them and |
| schizophrenia too, compared to a person who has no | | | | tell them how to behave. |
| history of the disease in the family; the condition | | | | A schizophrenic patient may also show no emotions, |
| tends to run in families. | | | | or be unable to speak, or may avoid taking any |
| A cause of the schizophrenia was suspected to be a | | | | action at all. Characteristic to schizophrenia is also |
| viral infection. Some researchers said that a virus | | | | disorganized thinking and behavior: the patient may |
| attacks the brain, more precisely the part of the | | | | have trouble answering a question clearly, completing |
| brain that interprets messages from the senses. This | | | | a sentence or thinking through an idea. |