Work

Treatment of nonpsychotic relatives of patients with schizophrenia: Six case studies

Year: 2002

Type: article

Abstract: There is growing support for the notion that the \ngenetic liability for schizophrenia could be manifested in \nbrain dysfunction, even without the full manifestations \nof schizophrenia [Meehl, 1962, 1989; Seidman, 1997; \nFaraone et al., 2001]. This liability is characterized \nclinically by neurologic, neurobiological, psychiatric, \nneuropsychological, and psychosocial impairments in \nnonpsychotic, first-degree relatives of people with \nschizophrenia and includes eye tracking dysfunction \n[Levy et al., 1994], allusive thinking [Catts et al., 1993], \nneurologic signs [Erlenmeyer-Kimling et al., 1982], \nbiochemical abnormalities [Callicott et al., 1998], char acteristic auditory evoked potentials [Friedman and \nSquires-Wheeler, 1994], neuroimaging assessed brain abnormalities [Seidman et al., 1997], and neuropsycho logical impairment [Kremen et al., 1994]. Paul Meehl \nintroduced the term ‘‘schizotaxia’’ in 1962 to describe the \ngenetic predisposition to schizophrenia [Meehl, 1962], \nand we have modified the concept to take account of \nsubsequent research [Faraone et al., 2000]. The concept \nof schizotaxia raises at least three fundamental issues: \n1) What is the conceptual basis of schizotaxia? 2) Is it a \nvalid syndrome? and 3) perhaps most importantly from \nthe point of view of the eventual prevention of schizo phrenia, is it treatable? In this paper, we review the \nmodel of schizotaxia by focusing first on its nature and \nextent. We then describe preliminary research criteria \nfor its diagnosis in nonpsychotic relatives of schizo phrenic patients, followed by a presentation of our initial attempts to treat schizotaxia. Finally, prospects for the \nfuture focus on the need to validate the proposed syndrome further and on the clinical implications of \ntreating schizotaxia.

Source: American Journal of Medical Genetics

DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.10363

Authors: Ming T. Tsuang, William S. Stone, Sarah I. Tarbox, Stephen V. Faraone

Institutions: Harvard University, Massachusetts Mental Health Center, Massachusetts General Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Schizophrenia research and treatment

Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute of Mental Health