The Copenhagen high risk study

Kety et al 1962By Kelly and Selina

Aim

To investigate whether there is a biological predisposition in schizophrenia, researchers have suggested that this may occur in foetal development.

Procedure

• A longitudinal study• They identified 207 off springs of mothers

diagnosed with schizophrenia (high risk)• Matched with a control group of 104 children

with ‘healthy’ mothers (low risk)• Children were aged between 10-20 years at the

start of the study and were matched upon age, gender, place of residence and their background

Procdure continued…

• The sample of children were given a variety of assessments of which their response was measured.

• Assessments – response to mild/loud sounds, word association test, interview with parent, reaction to school report from teacher

Schizotypal personality

• A disorder characterised by acentric behaviour and anomalies of thinking and affect which resemble those seen in schizophrenia.

Findings

• Out of the high risk group 16.2% were diagnosed with schizophrenia compared to 1.9% in the low risk group

• 18.8% of the high risk group were diagnosed with schizotypal personality disorder whereas only 5% of the low risk group were diagnosed with schizotypal personality disorder.

Conclusion

• The study supports that a large proportion of children with shizophrenic mothers suffers an elevation predisposition to schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Other factors that can increase the risk are; age of mother when her illness begins, number of relatives with schizophrenia

• The schizotypal personality disorder is based on genetics

evaluation

• A strength of this study is that it is supported by research such as the New york high risk project they found similar findings along with a 25 year follow up.