Phenylthiocarbamide perception in patients with schizophrenia and first-degree family members.
OBJECTIVE
The inability to taste phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) has been associated with medical and neurological illnesses not typically related to taste. The authors examined PTC sensitivity in schizophrenia patients and their non-ill relatives to determine whether this represented a vulnerability marker.


METHODS
PTC sensitivity was assessed in 42 schizophrenia patients, 23 healthy comparison subjects, and 12 first-degree relatives of the patients.


RESULTS
More nontasters were found among patients and family members than healthy comparison subjects. Among patients, nontasters had more positive symptoms. Differences were not explained by sex, age, medication, smoking, or cognitive impairment.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of PTC nontasters was greater among schizophrenia patients and non-ill first-degree family members. Phenotypic variation in PTC sensitivity is genetic in origin. This suggests a higher risk for illness among subjects with recessive alleles.
Moberg
Paul J
PJ
Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 3400 Spruce St., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. moberg@bbl.med.upenn.edu
Roalf
David R
DR
Balderston
Catherine C
CC
Kanes
Stephen J
SJ
Gur
Raquel E
RE
Turetsky
Bruce I
BI
D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005808:Genes, Recessive / Q000502:physiology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010375:Pedigree; D010641:Phenotype; D010670:Phenylthiourea; D015995:Prevalence; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D013649:Taste / Q000502:physiology*; D013651:Taste Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D013652:Taste Threshold / Q000502:physiology
D010670:Phenylthiourea