Heredity:

Genes may play a role in the development of schizophrenia.

Environmental Factors:

Possible environmental factors include obstetric complications such as exposure to influenza during pregnancy or nutritional deprivation during pregnancy. It has also been suggested that stress and trauma can lead to the emergence of schizophrenia.

Neuro-developmental Factors:

There is a possibility that individuals who develop schizophrenia in early adult life have suffered some form of cerebral disorder in the development of their brain while in the womb.

Drug Misuse:

Some research suggests that substance misuse is related to the development of schizophrenia.

Biochemical Factors:

Certain biochemical imbalances in the brain are believed to be involved in the cause of schizophrenia. Neurotransmitters (the substances that allow communication between nerve cells) have long been thought to be involved in the development of schizophrenia.