Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia

Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia, a term introduced by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1911, describes a severe psychological disorder marked by profound disruptions in attention, thought processes, language, emotion, and interpersonal relationships. The core feature of schizophrenia is psychosis — a state characterized by a fundamental detachment from reality. This disconnection manifests through distorted logic, impaired perception, and atypical behavior, severely affecting the lives of those diagnosed.

Positive Symptoms Schizophrenia: Hallucinations and Delusions

Positive Symptoms Schizophrenia: Hallucinations and Delusions

Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder characterized by a range of symptoms that significantly impact cognition, behavior, and emotional regulation. Among these, the positive symptoms stand out as they involve the addition or exaggeration of normal mental functions, deviating markedly from typical behavior and perception. Hallucinations and delusions are prominent positive symptoms, each profoundly affecting the individual's experience of reality.
Hallucinations
Hallucinations in...

Biological Causes of Schizophrenia

Biological Causes of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia, a severe psychiatric disorder, arises from a complex interplay of biological factors, including genetic predisposition, structural brain abnormalities, neurotransmitter dysregulation, and developmental irregularities. These factors collectively contribute to the onset and progression of the disorder, which typically manifests in late adolescence or early adulthood.
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin studies.

Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders

Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders

Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose origins are rooted in complex genetic components. Despite our burgeoning understanding, the pathophysiology of this disorder remains incompletely deciphered.
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within the...

Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia: Hallucinations and Delusions

Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia: Hallucinations and Delusions

Schizophrenia is a complex mental health disorder that can manifest with various positive symptoms, including thought, movement, and behavior disorders. These symptoms significantly disrupt cognitive and motor functions, leading to profound effects on an individual's ability to engage with the world.
Thought Disorders
Disorganized and unusual thought processes mark thought disorders in schizophrenia. One key feature is disorganized speech, where an individual's conversation includes loosely...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Collaborative Journaling in the Social Sciences: Guidelines and Applications.

Culture, medicine and psychiatry·2024

Same author

Perspectives of young adults diagnosed with early psychosis using coordinated specialty care in Texas on substance use and substance use interventions.

Early intervention in psychiatry·2023

Same author

Culture, stress and recovery from schizophrenia: lessons from the field for global mental health.

Culture, medicine and psychiatry·2010

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 1, 2026

Development of a Virtual Reality Assessment of Everyday Living Skills

Development of a Virtual Reality Assessment of Everyday Living Skills

Published on: April 23, 2014

Update: schizophrenia across cultures.

Neely Laurenzo Myers¹

¹Center for the Study of Complementary and Alternative Therapies, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA. neelymyers@gmail.com

Current Psychiatry Reports

|June 7, 2011

Summary

Cultural factors influence schizophrenia risk and outcomes. Understanding these socioenvironmental and physiological interactions can lead to better global interventions for psychotic disorders.

Area of Science:

Psychiatry and Anthropology
Cross-cultural Psychology
Neuroscience

Background:

Schizophrenia incidence, symptoms, course, and outcomes exhibit cultural variations.
Mechanisms linking cultural factors to schizophrenia risk and protection are not well understood.
Socioenvironmental and cultural variables may interact with physiological pathways in schizophrenia.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore how socioenvironmental and cultural factors interact with physiological pathways in schizophrenia.
To investigate the role of psychosocial stress, epigenetic changes, and coping mechanisms in culturally diverse populations.
To inform the development of effective, culturally relevant interventions for psychotic disorders globally.

Main Methods:

Transdisciplinary cross-cultural research approach.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 1, 2026

Development of a Virtual Reality Assessment of Everyday Living Skills

Development of a Virtual Reality Assessment of Everyday Living Skills

Published on: April 23, 2014

Examination of the interplay between psychosocial stress and psychotic symptoms.

Analysis of epigenetic modifications and the use of culturally available stress mitigation tools.

Main Results:

Cultural variations significantly impact the presentation and progression of schizophrenia.
Socioenvironmental factors and physiological pathways are intricately linked in the development of psychotic symptoms.
Culturally specific coping strategies can mitigate stress and influence outcomes.

Conclusions:

Cultural context is a critical determinant in schizophrenia risk, manifestation, and treatment.
Interventions for schizophrenia must consider socioenvironmental and cultural variables for global efficacy.
Further research into gene-environment-culture interactions is essential for advancing psychiatric care.