title: Neurological soft-signs and minor physical anomalies in schizophrenia: differential transmission within families.
abstract: Markers of vulnerability have been identified in schizophrenia, and among them, neurological soft-signs (NSS) and minor physical anomalies (MPAs) also seem to occur in biological relatives. The similarities of these developmental markers within families may depend on either genetic or non-genetic factors. The aim of the study was to investigate the intra-familial similarities of NSS and MPAs within 18 nuclear families (18 probands with schizophrenia and 36 of their non-psychotic parents). A general linear model showed similarities within families for NSS (intra-class coefficient [ICC] = 0.64; F = 2.6; df = 17.17; p = 0.02) but not for MPAs (ICC = -0.10; F = 0.7; df = 17.17; ns). We thus found a direct evidence for the intra-familial transmission of NSS but not of MPAs, suggesting that this morphological phenotypic trait could be more dependent on epigenetic influences.
authors.affiliation: Service Hospitalo-Universitaire, Hôpital Sainte-Anne, 7 rue Cabanis, 75014 Paris, France. gourion@broca.inserm.fr
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gourion
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Goldberger
authors.forename: Marie-Chantal
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bourdel
authors.forename: Frank Jean
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Bayle
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Millet
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Olie
authors.forename: Marie-Odile
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Krebs
mesh_terms: D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple; D000328:Adult; D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index