Non-psychotic disorders in the families of process schizophrenics

The present study was designed to test the hypothesis of "schizophrenic spectrum" disorders. The families of 60 process schizophrenics were systematically interviewed with structured interview forms, and evaluated for psychiatric illness according to strict diagnostic criteria. The interviewed persons were then separated into two groups for comparative analysis according to a positive (FH+) or negative (FH-) family history for schizophrenia. The frequencies of affective disorder and all non-psychotic conditions did not differ to a convincingly significant degree between the two groups. Our data thus fail to support the "schizophrenic spectrum" hypothesis in which neurosis and sociopathy occur as a consequence of a genetic loading for schizophrenia.?