Is schizophrenia a preventable disease?
Schizophrenia is a fairly common disease, afflicting about one per cent of the adult population. It is one of the most severe illnesses that afflict humans and it often runs a chronic, debilitating course. Various lines of evidence now show that the illness is a disease of the brain even though there is no single neuropathological sign off the illness that is common in all patients. Heredity remains the single most important etiological factor associated with the illness. However, even though strong, its link with the illness lives room for the inference that environmental factors are also involved. Intrauterine viral infection and perinatal birth complications are two of such putative environmental etiological factors. The present stage of genetic engineering does not permit for a vigorous campaign of primary preventive measures for schizophrenia even though the prospects are bright that this may soon be so. Secondary prevention is an eminently effective measure for an overwhelming majority of the patients. Tertiary measures are necessary for a substantial minority and, when delivered by highly trained personnel, can improve the quality of life for those that would otherwise develop incapacitating personality and intellectual deterioration.