A MD. might beable to help me. I have a very important topic I need to discuss with someone knowing of disease genetics, if anyone can help me or point me in a good direction of an email address or a AIM screen name i would appreciate it greatly...If someone can email me at Woody2285@echoes.net or Instant message me over AIM PapaWood2285 I would def. appreciate it, thanks.


Todd

might make it easier if I just explain the situation in this here reply, well my father has schitzofrenia, and i know its genetic, but im not sure if its going to apply to the situation, my fathers belived to have gotten the disease when my grandmother was pregnant with him, she had german measles during the pregnacy, any questions are welcome i just need to know if i can give it my kids or develope it... thanks


Todd

My advice would be to seek professional help outside of a message board.

I would do as much research as I could prior to seeking help so I would get as much out of the consultation as possible.

Hope that helps.

thanks, ill work up to that with some time, good idea

PapaWood

Talk to your primary care doctor first. If you want more info than he/she can give you ask for a referal to a specialist.

If you don't have a primay care Doctor try an Internal Medicine Specialist or a Psychiatrist.

PapaWood,

When my wife and I were first married, I had genetic testing done to see if I was a carrier of genes for various birth defects. This may be appropriate for you -- but you'll have to talk to the doctors and find out the best thing to do. This is far too important to make any decisions based on message board stuff alone. Once you know more, discussion may be more appropriate.

I hope you reach a positive conclusion. Kids are one of the best things there is.

Saul

thanks for the support fellows, ill smoke a cigar for each of you tonight

It is not known exactly what causes schizophrenia. Like most disorders, all we can do is explain it with a combination of genetic/physical/environmental risk factors. Trauma during birth has been linked to higher rates of schizophrenia, but the data is weak.

Your chances of developing schizophrenia ranges from around 10-15%. The chances of your offsrping getting it are around 2-5%. This is purely genetic speaking though.

But you should know that even if they did know the locus that was linked to high incidence of schizophrenia...and let's say you were to have it...that does not always mean you get it. Inheritance of a mutated locus just increases your risk by alot...doesn't mean you are doomed from the start.

I had a girlfriend in the past, who had clinical depression run in her family. This meant that she just had to be extra vigilant about looking for symptoms, and that her doctor may resort to medications sooner with her than with other people who didn't have those risk factors.

You'd want to talk to a specialist who can advise you, but like others said, just because you *may* have some risk factors doesn't necessarily mean anything. It just might help you and your doctor make treatment decisions.

Best of luck.