title: Linguistic reference performance in parents of schizophrenic patients.
abstract: Clinicians have often reported observing subtle signs of thought disorder or communication difficulties in parents of schizophrenic patients. Ascertaining empirically whether these impressions are valid and, if so, clarifying the nature of such disturbances is important for at least two reasons. First, it could assist in elucidating the etiologies of the illness. If distinguishing parental characteristics could be clearly defined, then further research could be undertaken to determine to what extent they represent genetic vulnerability markers, pathogenic environmental influences, or behavioral responses to having a disordered offspring. Secondly, it could facilitate our understanding of the cognitive processes involved in schizophrenia or in the constitutional vulnerability to schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, USA.
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Docherty
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011578:Psycholinguistics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics*; D012564:Schizophrenic Language; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013068:Speech Production Measurement; D013850:Thinking