Schizophrenia Research
Volume 77, Issue 1 , Pages 35-41, 1 September 2005

Increased prevalence of schizophrenia spectrum disorders in relatives of neuroleptic-nonresponsive schizophrenic patients☆

  • Ridha Joober

      Affiliations

    • Douglas Hospital Research Center, Douglas Hospital, Verdun, Quebec, Canada
    • ,
  • Guy A. Rouleau

      Affiliations

    • Montreal General Research Institute, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
    • ,
  • Samarthji Lal

      Affiliations

    • Douglas Hospital Research Center, Douglas Hospital, Verdun, Quebec, Canada
    • ,
  • David Bloom

      Affiliations

    • Douglas Hospital Research Center, Douglas Hospital, Verdun, Quebec, Canada
    • ,
  • Pierre Lalonde

      Affiliations

    • L.H. Lafontaine Hospital, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
    • ,
  • Alain Labelle

      Affiliations

    • Royal Ottawa Hospital, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
    • ,
  • Chawki Benkelfat

      Affiliations

    • Allan Memorial Institute, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, 1033, Pine Avenue W, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3A 1A1
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author.

Received 7 June 2004; received in revised form 14 January 2005; accepted 18 January 2005.

Abstract 

Objective

It is suggested that schizophrenic patients who respond to neuroleptic medication and those who do not might differ with respect to their pathogenesis. In particular, it has been proposed that genetic factors may contribute to treatment response and/or outcome. In order to test this hypothesis, we compared the pattern of familial aggregation of schizophrenia related disorders in schizophrenic patients who are either responders (R) or nonresponders (NR) to typical neuroleptics.

Method

R (n=36) or NR (n=35) patients to typical neuroleptics and healthy controls (n=63) were recruited. At least one key informant relative of each proband was interviewed blind as to the status of the proband using the Family Interview for Genetic Studies. Morbid risk for schizophrenia and cluster A personality disorders and family loading score for schizophrenia were examined in first- and second-degree relatives of these probands.

Results

First-degree relatives of NR patients were at a significantly higher risk for schizophrenia (MR=8.84), compared, respectively, to relatives of controls (MR=1.52) or relatives of R patients (MR=2.45). The same pattern was observed in second-degree relatives. Family loading score for schizophrenia in first- and second-degree relatives was significantly higher in NR compared to R patients.

Conclusions

Schizophrenic patients who do not respond to typical neuroleptics may suffer from a more familial form of schizophrenia compared to patients who are responders.

Keywords: Schizophrenia, Family history, Response to neuroleptics

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☆ Presented in part as an oral presentation at the Society of Biological Psychiatry Annual Meeting, Washington D.C., May 13-15, 1999.

PII: S0920-9964(05)00047-2

doi:10.1016/j.schres.2005.01.008

Schizophrenia Research
Volume 77, Issue 1 , Pages 35-41, 1 September 2005

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