Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 3, 2026

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study
07:30

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study

Published on: August 18, 2020

8.4K

Birth order and psychopathology

Ajay Risal1, Hema Tharoor2

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Dhulikhel Hospital, Kathmandu University Hospital, Dhulikhel, Kavre, Nepal.

Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care
|January 31, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Birth order may influence psychopathology, but depression and alcohol dependence are common in adults regardless of sibling position. Dissociative disorders were more prevalent in first-born children in the child psychiatry group.

Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Sibling ranking (birth order) is linked to intellectual functioning, personality, behavior, and psychopathology.
  • Understanding these associations is crucial for comprehensive psychiatric care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between birth order and the development of psychopathology.
  • To analyze psychiatric diagnoses in relation to birth order among patients in a teaching hospital's psychiatry services.

Main Methods:

  • A hospital-based, cross-sectional study utilizing retrospective file review.
  • Compared patient variables (age of onset, birth order, family type, family history) with psychiatric diagnoses (ICD-10).
  • Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA using SPSS 13.

Main Results:

  • Adult general psychiatry patients (n=527) had a mean age of onset of 33.01 years; child cases (n=47) at 11.68 years; substance abuse cases (n=110) at 26.74 years.
  • Depression, anxiety, and somatoform disorders were common in adult patients irrespective of birth order.
  • Dissociative disorders were most prevalent in first-born children (36.7%) among child cases, while alcohol dependence was the maximum diagnosis across all birth orders in substance abuse cases.

Conclusions:

  • Depression and alcohol dependence are the most frequent diagnoses in adult psychiatric patients, independent of their birth order.
  • Specific birth orders may correlate with certain diagnoses, such as dissociative disorders in first-born children.
Abstract

Keywords:
Birth orderdepressionpsychopathology

More Related Videos

Measurement of Fronto-limbic Activity Using an Emotional Oddball Task in Children with Familial High Risk for Schizophrenia13:08

Measurement of Fronto-limbic Activity Using an Emotional Oddball Task in Children with Familial High Risk for Schizophrenia

Published on: December 2, 2015

8.1K
Use of a Video Scoring Anchor for Rapid Serial Assessment of Social Communication in Toddlers09:16

Use of a Video Scoring Anchor for Rapid Serial Assessment of Social Communication in Toddlers

Published on: March 14, 2018

13.0K

Related Concept Videos

Adler's Individual Psychology01:28

Adler's Individual Psychology

Alfred Adler, a prominent figure in psychology, founded the school of individual psychology. In contrast to Freud's emphasis on sexual or aggressive motives, Adler suggested that individuals are primarily motivated by their purposes and goals. He believed that people strive for perfection rather than pleasure. Adler argued that individuals could creatively act upon their genetic inheritance and environmental experiences to shape their own lives, emphasizing conscious motivation over...
3.1K
Antisocial Personality Disorder01:24

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Antisocial personality disorder is a chronic mental health condition characterized by persistent patterns of disregard for the rights and well-being of others. Individuals with antisocial personality disorder exhibit behaviors that include deceitfulness, impulsivity, irresponsibility, aggression, and a profound lack of empathy. These traits often manifest early in life and persist into adulthood, leading to significant personal, social, and legal consequences.
Behavioral Characteristics and...
1.4K
Theoretical Approaches to Psychological Disorder01:29

Theoretical Approaches to Psychological Disorder

The development of psychological disorders, which are characterized by deviant, maladaptive, and personally distressing behaviors, has been explored through several theoretical approaches.
Biological approach
The biological approach posits that internal, organic factors are the primary causes of such disorders. This perspective emphasizes brain structure and function, genetic predispositions, and neurotransmitter imbalances. For example, schizophrenia has been associated with both genetic...
1.1K
Human Genetics01:28

Human Genetics

Human genetics provides a profound framework for understanding the interplay between genetic predispositions and human psychology. At the heart of this discipline lies the study of how genes influence physical traits, behaviors, and susceptibility to diseases. Each person carries a unique genetic code that subtly or significantly shapes their psychological and behavioral landscape.
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
2.0K
Personality Theory by Eysenck and Eysenck01:29

Personality Theory by Eysenck and Eysenck

Hans and Sybil Eysenck developed a widely recognized theory of personality, which emphasizes the role of temperament and genetically based differences in shaping individual traits. Their theory posits that biological factors primarily determine personality and can be understood through two main dimensions: extroversion/introversion and neuroticism/stability.
In the extroversion/introversion dimension, highly extroverted people are sociable, outgoing, and easily connect with others. In contrast,...
2.0K
Behavioral Genetics and Its Designs01:23

Behavioral Genetics and Its Designs

Behavior genetics explores how genetic inheritance influences human behavior. It focuses on how genes, passed from parents to offspring, contribute to the development of behavioral traits and tendencies. This branch of genetics seeks to understand the complex interplay between inherited genetic factors and environmental influences in shaping our behaviors.
The primary methodologies used in behavior genetics include family studies, twin studies, and adoption studies, each providing unique...
1.5K