Clinical characteristics of familial schizophrenia.

Abstract

A family history of psychiatric disorders is one of the strongest risk factors for schizophrenia. The characteristics of patients with a family history of psychiatric disorders have not been systematically evaluated. This multicenter study (26 centers, 2425 cases) was performed in a Chinese population to examine the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of schizophrenia patients with a family history of psychotic disorders in comparison with those of patients with sporadic schizophrenia. Nineteen percent of patients had a family history of mental disease. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that ≥4 hospitalizations (OR=1.78, P=.004), tobacco dependence (OR=1.48, P=.006), alcohol dependence (OR=1.74, P=.013), and physical illness (OR=1.89, P=.001) were independently and significantly associated with a family history of mental disease. Patients with a family history of mental disorders present different demographics and clinical features than patients without a family history of psychiatric disorders.