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. 2006 Oct:189:337-45.
doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.105.016998.

Psychopathology, personality traits and social development of young first-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia

Stephen J Glatt  1 , William S Stone, Stephen V Faraone, Larry J Seidman, Ming T Tsuang
Affiliations

Psychopathology, personality traits and social development of young first-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia

Stephen J Glatt et al. Br J Psychiatry. 2006 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Evaluation of individuals at high genetic risk of schizophrenia is a powerful method for identifying precursors of the illness.

Aims: To identify aspects of personality, psychopathology and social development that differentiate high-risk and control individuals.

Method: Adolescent and young-adult first-degree relatives (n=35) of people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and a control group (n=55) were compared on 36 measures at baseline of a longitudinal study. Measures differentiating high-risk and control participants were related to four genetic loading indices.

Results: High-risk participants older than 17 years showed more physical anhedonia, less positive involvement with peers and more problems with peers, siblings and the opposite gender. Older high-risk individuals also were less cooperative, less self-directed and less reward-dependent. Problems with peers and the opposite gender, as well as reward dependence, were related linearly to genetic loading.

Conclusions: Alterations in personality traits and social development are present in high-risk individuals, and may be markers for genetic liability toward the illness.

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