Nicotine and familial vulnerability to schizophrenia: a discordant twin study.
Tobacco use is significantly associated with schizophrenia. However, it is not clear if smoking is associated with the illness itself, treatment, or underlying vulnerability to the disease. Smoking was studied in a sample of schizophrenic probands (n = 24), their unaffected co-twins (n = 24), and controls (n = 3,347). Unaffected co-twins had higher rates of daily smoking than controls. Probands and co-twins were more frequently unsuccessful in attempts to quit than controls. Probands reported shaky hands and depression following smoking cessation more often than controls, whereas unaffected co-twins reported difficulty concentrating, drowsiness, nervousness, and headache following smoking cessation more often than controls. Results are consistent with the hypothesis that nicotine use is influenced by familial vulnerability to schizophrenia, not just clinical schizophrenia per se.
Lyons
Michael J
MJ
Department of Psychology, Boston University, Massachusetts 02215, USA. mlyons@bu.edu
Bar
Jessica L
JL
Kremen
William S
WS
Toomey
Rosemary
R
Eisen
Seth A
SA
Goldberg
Jack
J
Faraone
Stephen V
SV
Tsuang
Ming
M
D000328:Adult; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000235:genetics*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005731:Ganglionic Stimulants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009538:Nicotine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012306:Risk; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics*; D012907:Smoking / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*
D005731:Ganglionic Stimulants; D009538:Nicotine