Growth hormone response to apomorphine and family patterns of illness.
Sixty-five psychotic probands were divided into three groups (low, intermediate, and high) on the basis of the GH response to the dopamine receptor agonist apomorphine. Two hundred and sixty-five first-degree relatives of the probands were diagnosed according to SADS-DSM-III methods, and the relatives of the three groups of probands were compared so as to detect familial differences in the incidence of DSM-III Axis I disorders, schizotypal personality disorder, and antisocial personality. Although the morbid risk of schizophrenic spectrum disorder was only 3.1% in the relatives of the high GH probands, the morbid risk for disorders of the schizophrenic spectrum was 17.0% and 10.7% in the relatives of the intermediate and low GH probands, respectively. These data provide preliminary evidence that there may be a psychotic subtype that is characterized by supersensitivity of the dopamine system that is familially, and perhaps genetically, distinct from the bulk of the schizophrenias.
Sautter
F
F
Garver
D L
DL
Zemlan
F P
FP
Hirschowitz
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000235:genetics; D001058:Apomorphine; D005819:Genetic Markers; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000378:metabolism*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D012569:Schizotypal Personality Disorder / Q000235:genetics
D005819:Genetic Markers; D013006:Growth Hormone; D001058:Apomorphine