Paranoid schizophrenia is a type of psychotic disorder in which the sufferer believes he is being persecuted. He suffers from delusional thinking and auditory hallucinations of "voices" speaking to him. It is a chronic, permanent disorder that begins from late childhood through the 40s. Most cases develop in the late teens or 20s. Risk factors for paranoid schizophrenia include a combination of genetic and environmental influences.
Family History
Having a parent or other close relative with schizophrenia increases one's risk of developing paranoid schizophrenia. Having an identical twin with the disorder greatly increases the risk.
Maternal Illness During Pregnancy
A woman who suffers toxoplasmosis, rubella or influenza during pregnancy will bear a child with an increased risk of schizophrenia. Other infections may also increase the risk of paranoid schizophrenia for the child.
Maternal Nutritional Deficiency During Pregnancy
A woman who is malnourished during her pregnancy has an increased risk of bearing a child who later develops schizophrenia. A maternal deficiency of folic acid and vitamin B12 also creates an increased risk.
Medical Problems During Pregnancy and Birth
A pregnancy fraught with complications such as low oxygen to the fetus, bleeding and long labor all lead to an increased risk of schizophrenia. Premature birth is another independent risk factor for schizophrenia.
Age of the Father
According to Mayo Clinic, a child born to an older father carries an increased risk of developing paranoid schizophrenia. A study published in British medical journal BMJ in 2004 concluded, "advancing paternal age is an important independent risk factor for schizophrenia."
Childhood Trauma
Childhood abuse and other trauma cause a child to be at higher risk for paranoid schizophrenia. The loss of a parent due to separation or death also puts a child at risk.
Low IQ
A child's IQ correlates with his risk of developing schizophrenia, with a lower than normal IQ slightly increasing the odds of this disorder.
Stressful Life Circumstances
Living in poverty and other stressful situations puts a child and young adult at risk of developing schizophrenia.
Drug Use During Adolescence and Young Adulthood
The use of psychoactive drugs, including cannabis, increases the risk of developing paranoid schizophrenia.
Other Risk Factors
According to Aurora Health Care, schizophrenia is more common among people who were born during the winter months. Living in the city also increases one's risk of the disorder.
