Psychotic Illnesses Linked To Broken Homes
Tuesday, November 21st, 2006Research suggests that those from broken homes may be more prone to psychotic illnesses. Separation was associated with a 2.5 fold increased risk in developing psychosis: “Separation from one or both parents for more than a year before the age of 16, as a consequence of family breakdown, was associated with a 2.5 fold increased risk of developing psychosis in adulthood”.
Researcher Dr Craig Morgan said, “These findings provide evidence that early social adversity may increase the risk of later psychosis”, however he also stressed that more work was needed to fully understand this.
Another researcher, Professor Robin Murray, said, “For the last 30 years the traditional view has been that psychosis is largely a genetic brain disease, and most psychiatrists have thrown out the view that social factors can have a major impact”
