Genes and schizophrenia: a pseudoscientific disenfranchisement of the individual

Abstract

The biological model of schizophrenia remains the dominant model within mental health services. It has a powerful influence on the culture of mental health services; providing the structure for the delivery and selection of mental health treatments. There is widespread acceptance of a genetic cause for schizophrenia. Acceptance of a genetic cause is inconsistent with a person-centred recovery-orientated approach. The following paper provides a rigorous review of the underpinning research that supports the genetic argument. Appraisal of family, twin and adoption studies uncovers serious flaws in the methodologies and statistical analyses used in studies. These flaws not only artificially inflate the genetic contribution to schizophrenia but also invalidate many of the findings. More recent micro-imaging techniques have also failed to find replicable and consistent findings indicating a clear genetic pathway to schizophrenia. Freed from the implied pessimism of an unmodifiable genetic cause for schizophrenia, mental health nurses can confidently work to instil hope with people that have a diagnosis of schizophrenia.

Nicotine ameliorates cognitive deficits induced by maternal LPS exposure: A study in rats

“…Schizophrenia develops owing to an interaction of multiple factors of genetic and environmental origin (Caspi et al, 2005; Clarke et al, 2009; Fleming and Martin, 2011; Modinos et al, 2013; Mulle, 2012). Early pre- and postnatal environmental factors are central to the neurodevelopmental theory, which argues that disturbances early during neuronal development predispose an individual to schizophrenia (for review, see Khandaker et al, 2013, 2011; Murray and Lewis, 1987).…”

Rethinking Schizophrenia in the Context of the Person and Their Circumstances: Seven Reasons

“…To begin with, the epidemiological, family, twin, and adoption studies on which this myth is based do not adequately support such assertions (Leo, 2003, 2016; Crow, 2008; Fleming and Martin, 2011; Joseph, 2013; James, 2016). Both the methodological problems of these studies and the intricate nature of the very relationship between genetics and environment preclude the establishment of percentages and causal relations, as well as statements such as “schizophrenia is due mainly to genetic effects” (Sullivan, 2005, p. 615).…”

An evidence‐based response to ‘Genes and schizophrenia: a pseudoscientific disenfranchisement of the individual’

“…2000). We are not aware of any scientific evidence supporting Fleming & Martin's (2011) assertions that genetic explanations for schizophrenia ‘imply a pessimistic therapeutic outlook (p. 469)’, ‘inhibit the ability of mental health nurses to work confidently or instill hope (p. 469)’ or mean that ‘symptoms and behaviours are pre‐determined (p. 470)’. We object to the inflammatory rhetoric comparing genetics research to eugenics and to ‘the horrific and inhuman consequences (p. 470)’.…”

“…We appreciate the article by Fleming & Martin (2011) entitled, ‘Genes and schizophrenia: a pseudoscientific disenfranchisement of the individual’. However, we would like to offer some concerns about the literature review and its analysis, as well as the need for some important clarifications about the authors' statements and interpretations.…”

“…First, Fleming & Martin (2011) portray their review of genetic research into the aetiology of schizophrenia as ‘a rigorous review (p. 469)’, yet the vast majority of their references are over 15 years old. The authors summarize some of the less current literature to argue that there is not a replicable or consistent pathway to genetic research in schizophrenia.…”