title: Status of twin research in functional psychoses.
abstract: After briefly reviewing the main findings of twin research in functional psychoses, the author focuses the attention on neglected aspects of twin research, such as the study of co-twins of monozygotic (MZ) subjects with functional psychosis, and the study of life histories of discordantly affected twins. Through a thorough investigation of the nonpsychotic co-twins of MZ subjects, one might be able to identify vulnerability factors. By studying the life course of the twins in a pair, discovery of environmental etiological factors are possible. By including twins with both schizophrenic, manic-depressive and reactive psychotic symptomatology, one should be able to discover whether the environmental factors are of a specific kind.
mesh_terms: D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000235:genetics; D004200:Diseases in Twins; D006801:Humans; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000235:genetics; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000235:genetics*; D012306:Risk; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics; D012931:Social Environment; D014429:Twins, Dizygotic; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic