Genetic and psychosocial factors in schizophrenia: the Finnish Adoptive Family Study.
A nationwide Finnish sample of schizophrenic mothers' offspring given up for adoption was compared blindly with matched controls (i.e., adopted-away offspring of nonschizophrenic biological parents). The offspring were born 1927-79. To date, a total of 247 adoptive families (112 index and 135 controls) have been investigated and rated. Of the 10 psychotic cases, 8 are offspring of schizophrenics and 2 are control offspring. However, no seriously disturbed offspring is found in a healthy or mildly disturbed adoptive family, and of those offspring who were psychotic or seriously disturbed, nearly all were reared in disturbed adoptive families. This supports the hypothesis that a possible genetic vulnerability has interacted with the adoptive rearing environment.
D000293:Adolescent; D000300:Adoption; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010553:Personality Development; D012306:Risk; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012931:Social Environment