Environmental Risk Factors and Schizophrenia Development

Objective: To study the relationship between environmental risk factors and schizophrenia among the study subjects.

Methodology: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted in 150 participants: 75 participants were diagnosed with schizophrenia and 75 levels of control. Participants were recruited through psychiatric outpatient departments of tertiary care hospitals. Researchers used a structured questionnaire to estimate environmental exposures, such as being raised in an urban area, childhood trauma, cannabis use and socioeconomic status. Data were analysed using the software package of statistical package and its version 25 by using chi square tests and logistic regression. A p value less than 0.05 was regarded as statistically significant.

Results: The result of the study was that the environmental risk factors were significantly more common among the schizophrenia patients than the controls. Childhood trauma was the strongest association (OR = 3.8, p of = 0.001), followed by urban upbringing (OR = 2.5, p = 0.002), cannabis use (OR = 2.3, p = 0.01) and low socioeconomic status (OR = 1.9, p =0.04). These results show an unambiguous association between environmental exposures and the development of schizophrenia.

Conclusion: Environmental factors, especially traumatic events in early life, are a significant factor in the development of schizophrenia. The study highlights the need for preventive measures that can help to reduce the risk of exposure to modifiable risk factors and promote mental health awareness.