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Genetic Hypotheses and Environmental Factors in the Light of Psychiatric Morbidity in the Families of Schizophrenics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

D. W. K. Kay ,
M. Roth ,
M. W. Atkinson ,
D. A. Stephens  and
R. F. Garside
D. W. K. Kay
Affiliation:
Royal Victoria Infirmary, and University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4LP
M. Roth
Affiliation:
University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4LP
M. W. Atkinson
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of South Manchester, West Didsbury, Manchester, M20 8LR; University of Newcastle upon Tyne
D. A. Stephens
Affiliation:
St. George's Hospital, Morpeth, Northumberland; University of Newcastle upon Tyne
R. F. Garside
Affiliation:
University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4LP
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Summary

The hypothesis that schizophrenia and some non-psychotic abnormalities occurring in the close relatives are both manifestations of a unitary ‘schizoid state’ due to a major dominant gene is further examined. Comparisons are made (1) of the observed and expected frequencies of the different types of parent mating; and (2) of the observed and expected risks among sibs in families with neither, or with one or both, of the parents abnormal. It is concluded that the results do not fit well with the model of inheritance of the schizoid state through a major dominant gene.

Since some hereditary contribution in schizophrenia can be regarded as established, the excess of personality disorders and heavy drinking in the families is thought to be due to a combination of polygenic inheritance and environmental influences. The findings are regarded only as tentative, but suggest several hypotheses which could be tested.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 127 , Issue 2 , August 1975 , pp. 109 - 118
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1975 

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