The British Journal of Psychiatry 159: 267-270 (1991)
© 1991 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Schizophrenia and affective disorder: are they genetically linked?
M Baron and RS Gruen
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York.
The relationship between schizophrenic 'spectrum' disorders and affective
illness was studied in the nuclear families of 90 chronic schizophrenic
probands. An increased risk of schizophrenia and related disorders was
demonstrated among the first-degree relatives of probands with a family
history of major affective disorders. Conversely, relatives of probands
with a family history of schizophrenic 'spectrum' disorders were at a
greater risk of affective illness (major depression) than relatives of
probands with no family history. These results lend support to the notion
that a subset of affective disorders is associated with the liability to
schizophrenia.