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Sibling pairs with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder: associations of subtypes, symptoms and demographic variables

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 July 1998

A. G. CARDNO ,
L. A. JONES ,
K. C. MURPHY ,
R. D. SANDERS ,
P. ASHERSON ,
M. J. OWEN  and
P. McGUFFIN
A. G. CARDNO
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine and Department of Medical Genetics, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff; and Institute of Psychiatry, London
L. A. JONES
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine and Department of Medical Genetics, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff; and Institute of Psychiatry, London
K. C. MURPHY
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine and Department of Medical Genetics, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff; and Institute of Psychiatry, London
R. D. SANDERS
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine and Department of Medical Genetics, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff; and Institute of Psychiatry, London
P. ASHERSON
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine and Department of Medical Genetics, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff; and Institute of Psychiatry, London
M. J. OWEN
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine and Department of Medical Genetics, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff; and Institute of Psychiatry, London
P. McGUFFIN
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine and Department of Medical Genetics, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff; and Institute of Psychiatry, London
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Abstract

Background. Affected sibling pairs provide a valuable means of investigating the familial basis of clinical heterogeneity in schizophrenia.

Methods. Associations of schizophrenia subtypes, psychotic symptoms (defined by SAPS/SANS and OPCRIT), affective episodes and demographic variables were studied in 109 sibling pairs with DSM-IV schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.

Results. None of the subtypes or affective episodes were significantly associated within pairs. A broad definition of positive formal thought disorder, grandiose delusions and delusions of influence (all from OPCRIT) were modestly associated. There was no excess of same-sex pairs. There were modest associations for age of illness onset, pre-morbid adjustment and illness severity. Caution is required in interpreting the results because many statistical tests were carried out.

Conclusions. None of the variables appears to be closely associated with specific genetic or shared environmental factors that contribute liability to schizophrenia. They are at best only weakly associated with such factors, and/or are associated with factors unrelated to the aetiology of schizophrenia.

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 28 , Issue 4 , July 1998 , pp. 815 - 823
Copyright
© 1998 Cambridge University Press

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