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Genetic modelling of childhood social development and personality in twins and siblings with schizophrenia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 October 2009

M. M. Picchioni ,
M. Walshe ,
T. Toulopoulou ,
C. McDonald ,
M. Taylor ,
S. Waters-Metenier ,
E. Bramon ,
A. Regojo ,
R. M. Murray  and
F. Rijsdijk
M. M. Picchioni*
Affiliation:
Division of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK St Andrew's Academic Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, Northampton, UK
M. Walshe
Affiliation:
Division of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
T. Toulopoulou
Affiliation:
Division of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
C. McDonald
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
M. Taylor
Affiliation:
Ballenden House, Edinburgh, UK
S. Waters-Metenier
Affiliation:
Division of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
E. Bramon
Affiliation:
Division of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
A. Regojo
Affiliation:
Division of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
R. M. Murray
Affiliation:
Division of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
F. Rijsdijk
Affiliation:
Social Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr M. M. Picchioni, PO67, Division of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Background

Abnormalities in early social development and personality are present in patients with schizophrenia and their unaffected relatives. This study aimed to establish the degree to which these childhood and adolescent developmental abnormalities are genetically determined.

Method

We used a combined twin and family study design (n=531) to assess childhood and adolescent social adjustment and schizotypal personality traits in 98 twin pairs (n=196) varying in their zygosity and concordance for schizophrenia and 156 sibling clusters (n=335) varying in their concordance for schizophrenia.

Results

Schizophrenia was significantly associated with childhood and adolescent deficits in social adjustment and personality, with additive genetic effects being the main source of these phenotypic correlations.

Conclusions

Abnormalities of social adjustment and personality are present in children and adolescents who later develop schizophrenia, reflecting the influence of common genetic risk.

Keywords

Genespersonalityschizophreniasocial developmenttwins
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 40 , Issue 8 , August 2010 , pp. 1305 - 1316
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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