Can You Test for Schizophrenia Gene?

At present, there isn’t a unique and definite genetic test for the detection of schizophrenia. There are many factors that have been discovered through research which prove genetic, thus increasing the chances of a person developing schizophrenia. However, these are not determinant genes; even if a person has these genes, this will not confirm the onset of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a multigenic condition wherein one or many factors such as genetic, environmental, and neurobiological predispose an individual to the illness. Some studies say that people with a history of the illness in the family have a greater predisposition rather than direct evidence of the genes involved. Nonetheless, susceptibility can be detected through genetic testing but cannot inform anyone that this individual will develop schizophrenia. Prenatal exposure to viruses and even extreme stress are among the other precursors. Schizophrenia treatment often addresses the complex interaction of these contributing factors, aiming to manage symptoms regardless of the specific cause. There should be more studies on precise genetics and how genetics works with environmental factors to contribute to the microcosm of schizophrenia.