Schizophrenia Research
Volume 58, Issue 1 , Pages 31-35, 1 November 2002

A possible association between the genetic predisposition for dizygotic twinning and schizophrenia

  • Ulla Kläning

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +45-77893853; fax: +45-77893859
    • Centre of Clinical Psychiatric Research, Mood Disorder Research Unit, Psychiatric Hospital in Aarhus, Skovagervej 2, 8240 Risskov, Denmark
    • ,
  • Carsten Bøcker Pedersen

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatric Demography, Institute for Basic Psychiatric Research, Aarhus University Hospital and the National Centre for Register-based Research, Aarhus University, Denmark
    • ,
  • Preben Bo Mortensen

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatric Demography, Institute for Basic Psychiatric Research, Aarhus University Hospital and the National Centre for Register-based Research, Aarhus University, Denmark
    • ,
  • Kirsten Ohm Kyvik

      Affiliations

    • The Danish Twin Registry, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
    • ,
  • Axel Skytthe

      Affiliations

    • Danish Centre for Demographic Research and the Danish Twin Registry, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark

Received 15 May 2001; accepted 14 September 2001.

Abstract 

Background: A previous study demonstrated a 40% higher rate of schizophrenia in dizygotic twins than in the general population. The aim of the present study is to evaluate whether genes influencing the rate of dizygotic twinning and genes of importance for developing schizophrenia can be associated. Method: Through record linkage between The Danish Twin Register, The Danish Psychiatric Central Register, and The Danish Civil Registration System, the rate of schizophrenia in singleton siblings of dizygotic and monozygotic twins was compared with the rate in siblings of singletons. Results: The rate of first admission to hospital for schizophrenia in siblings of dizygotic twins was 35% greater than the rate in siblings of singletons. The result was statistically significant (p=0.04). The rate in siblings of monozygotic twins was not increased. Conclusion: The results are in accordance with a theory of a linkage between genes influencing the rate of dizygotic twinning and genes influencing the threshold for developing schizophrenia.

Keywords:  Dizygotic twins, Schizophrenia, Genes

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PII: S0920-9964(01)00343-7

Schizophrenia Research
Volume 58, Issue 1 , Pages 31-35, 1 November 2002

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