Maternal bonding behaviour in schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, considering premorbid personality traits

Bonding between mother and child is described as a complex two-way process ensuring the needs of the child for nurture and protection. As such, it is dependent on the contribution of mother and child [1-3] whereby characteristics of personality of the child may have consequences on maternal bonding behaviour. In the current study the perception of maternal behaviour, premorbid personality traits and relationships between maternal behaviour and personality traits were investigated in schizophrenic and schizoaffective patients and their same-sex, healthy siblings.

We recruited 36 schizophrenic and schizoaffective patients and their same-sex healthy siblings. Information about maternal bonding behaviour was assessed by the Parental Bonding Instrument, information about premorbid personality traits was obtained from their mothers using the "Giessen-Test".

Compared to their siblings, patients showed less social resonance, more permeability, less social competence and a more depressed and anxious mood. Furthermore, patients described their mothers to be less caring and to be more overprotective than their siblings described them. But there were strong associations between maternal bonding behaviour and premorbid personality traits. These findings were supported by missing significant differences in maternal care behaviour between patients and siblings when using premorbid characteristics as covariates. Significant high maternal overprotection perceived by patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders still remained after correcting for the influence of premorbid personality traits.

The results suggest that premorbid personality traits should be considered not only in analyses of maternal care behaviour in schizophrenic and schizoaffective patients but also when studying other psychiatric patient groups.