[Interpair differences in the characteristics of the ontogeny, premorbid personality and severity of schizophrenia in twins]

Abstract

In each of the studied 124 pairs, a twin A was distinguished (the patient with manifest symptoms in the discordant pairs, or more seriously affected twin in concordant pairs) and twin B--its partner. It was demonstrated that the order of birth, differences in the weight at birth, periodization of development do not correlate with the differences in the clinical expression of schizophrenia. Such unfavourable factors as asphyxia, complications during delivery, severe somatic illnesses had a certain tendency to accumulate in twin A. The most distinct correlation was found between the traits of a premorbid personality and the eventual intrapair differences in the severeity of schizophrenia. Twin A in the majority of the cases was more excitable in childhood, had more fears, slept worse, and had a poor appetite. The twin A by its premorbid traits was generally characterized by prevalent asthenic features, withdrawal signs and a more dysharmonic type of personality.