There is the other side to the nature-versus-nurture argument of the nurture-based causal factors of childhood-onset schizophrenia that needs to be looked at. One nurture-based causal factor for schizophrenia is childhood trauma which has a that has been concluded in many studies. Like a study in The Lancet reported how “exposure to multiple types and repeated episodes of maltreatment is associated with increased risks of severe maltreatment and psychological consequences,” with one of the consequences they claimed is “long-lasting effects on mental health,” (Gilbert). The connection between mental disorders and mistreatment in children is logical because childhood is noted as a time for brains to develop and mature, and an abused brain would
…show more content…
These risk factors are significant, because they tell what the scientific communities believe puts a child at risk to develop schizophrenia. In a specific study completed by Norman Watt, he tested at-risk infants for what could put them at risk for COS. Watt described what could put infants at risk on three counts “(1) disordered family background; (2) maternal psychopathology; and (3) neonatal signs of neurointegrative deficiencies,” (Watt). The factors that Watt claims put infants at risk include both nature and nurture-based factors. A disordered family background and maternal psychopathology could be viewed as both genetic and environmental factors. A disordered family background could either mean the infant grew up in a household that was disorganized or abusive which would be nurture based, or this statement could imply the infant’s family had a history of mental illness, this line if not clearly defined. Maternal psychopathology is nature-based due to the genetic relation and heritability of schizophrenia, but maternal mental illness can also be nurture-based, because having a mentally ill parent can result in an abnormal home life. But as discussed earlier the effects of trauma and a disorganized home life do not tend to be seen until after puberty so both of these factors can be viewed as solely nature-based to do this fact. The neonatal signs of neurointegrative deficiencies factor is solely nature-based as well, because the definition of ‘nurture’ implies that the factor did not exist prior to the infant’s birth. Accordingly, discounting the nurture-based factors that would not affect patients with COS as they do not take place until after adolescence ends Watt included solely nature-based factors which indicates that the scientific community puts much more emphasize on nature-based factors as the cause of COS. Watt’s study shows what researchers
These risk factors are significant, because they tell what the scientific communities believe puts a child at risk to develop schizophrenia. In a specific study completed by Norman Watt, he tested at-risk infants for what could put them at risk for COS. Watt described what could put infants at risk on three counts “(1) disordered family background; (2) maternal psychopathology; and (3) neonatal signs of neurointegrative deficiencies,” (Watt). The factors that Watt claims put infants at risk include both nature and nurture-based factors. A disordered family background and maternal psychopathology could be viewed as both genetic and environmental factors. A disordered family background could either mean the infant grew up in a household that was disorganized or abusive which would be nurture based, or this statement could imply the infant’s family had a history of mental illness, this line if not clearly defined. Maternal psychopathology is nature-based due to the genetic relation and heritability of schizophrenia, but maternal mental illness can also be nurture-based, because having a mentally ill parent can result in an abnormal home life. But as discussed earlier the effects of trauma and a disorganized home life do not tend to be seen until after puberty so both of these factors can be viewed as solely nature-based to do this fact. The neonatal signs of neurointegrative deficiencies factor is solely nature-based as well, because the definition of ‘nurture’ implies that the factor did not exist prior to the infant’s birth. Accordingly, discounting the nurture-based factors that would not affect patients with COS as they do not take place until after adolescence ends Watt included solely nature-based factors which indicates that the scientific community puts much more emphasize on nature-based factors as the cause of COS. Watt’s study shows what researchers