| Abstract: | ![]()
Describes 3 approaches using monozygotic twins discordant for schizophrenia. It is noted that comparisons of discordant with concordant pairs have yielded conflicting results concerning the possibility of both genetic and environmentally induced forms of schizophrenia. Life history comparisons of schizophrenics with their nonschizophrenic co-twins have revealed consistent early differences in personality and parental treatment; investigators disagree, however, on the relationship of birth weight to schizophrenic development. Relatively few studies have been done of concordance for personality or performance traits among monozygotic twins discordant for schizophrenic diagnosis. It is suggested that this 3rd type of research holds great promise for identifying fundamental manifestations of the schizophrenic genotype, that higher female concordance rates make female discordance worthy of greater attention, and that investigations of environmental influences on the development of schizophrenia neglect less the possible positive influences which may buffer against schizophrenic breakdown. (33 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
