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Greater occurrence of schizophrenia in dizygotic but not monozygotic twins

Register-based study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

Ulla Kläning
Ulla Kläning*
Affiliation:
Institute for Basic Psychiatric Research, Department of Psychiatric Demography, Psychiatric Hospital in Aarhus, 8240 Risskov, Denmark
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Abstract

Background

A previous study demonstrated a higher rate of first hospitalisation for schizophrenia in twins than in singletons.

Aims

To compare the schizophrenia rates in monozygotic twins, dizygotic twins and the general population.

Method

Through record linkage between the Young Cohort of the Danish Twin Register and the Danish Psychiatric Case Register, the rate of schizophrenia in’ monozygotic and dizygotic twins and the rate in the general population were compared.

Results

The rate of first admission to hospital for schizophrenia in dizygotic twins was 40% greater than that in the general population. The rate in monozygotic twins was not increased. The difference between the rates in mono- and dizygotic twins was statistically significant (P < 0.001)

Conclusions

This result is surprising and is in the direction opposite to that expected, suggesting new possibilities in the study of risk factors.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 175 , Issue 5 , November 1999 , pp. 407 - 409
Copyright
Copyright © 1999 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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