Parental communication deviance in childhood onset schizophrenia spectrum and depressive disorders

Rates of parental communication deviance (CD) were compared in children with schizophrenia and schizotypal personality disorder and in contrast groups of children with major depression and dysthymic disorders. Results indicated significantly higher rates of CD in parents of schizophrenic and schizotypal children than in parents of children with major depression and dysthymic disorders. Schizophrenic and schizotypal children from high CD families showed the most severe impairments and the poorest attentional functioning. However, the small number of schizophrenic and schizotypal children with low CD parents underscored the strong association between schizophrenia spectrum disorders, parental CD and psychosocial and attentional impairment in the child.