[Overlap between schizophrenia and affective disorders--a family study]

The distinction between schizophrenia and affective disorders is fundamental. However, overlapping has been described in most studies of schizophrenia and of affective disorders. We studied 20 families, each with at least 1 parent and 1 child with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or of affective disorder. In half the families there were 2 diagnoses. In most of these families the children had a more severe disorder than the sick parent, onset was earlier, more were diagnosed as schizophrenic, hospitalizations were longer, and social functioning was worse. The results emphasize current problems in psychiatric diagnosis, which still lacks a pathophysiological etiologic basis.