The Israeli High-Risk Study: reply to Kaffman

Kaffman's critique (1986) of the Israeli High-Risk Study centers on a number of issues: research design, information reported, appropriateness of sample, and Kaffman's own direct experience with psychiatric populations in kibbutzim and elsewhere in Israel. I contend that Kaffman has not fully understood the goals, methods, design, or results of the investigation. The information reported was as complete as possible if it is borne in mind that many of the issues and problems he has raised were not considered in research done on psychiatric disorders 25 years ago. Nevertheless, I contend that the Israeli study meets currently accepted standards of psychiatric research, that the results are valid, and that they raise questions about possible pathogenic influences on vulnerable persons raised on kibbutzim.