Cognitive dysfunctions in parents of schizophrenic patients parallel the deficits found in patients.

Schizophrenia is characterized by a global cognitive impairment, with varying degrees of deficit in all ability domains. Since genetic factors are important in the etiology of schizophrenia we investigated whether parents of schizophrenic patients also show cognitive deficits, particularly on those cognitive ability domains that are most severely affected in patients. Both biological parents of 37 patients with schizophrenia (N=74 subjects) and 28 comparable healthy married control couples (N=56 subjects) were included.

Brain volume changes in first-episode schizophrenia: a 1-year follow-up study.

Background: Imaging studies of patients with schizophrenia have demonstrated that brain abnormalities are largely confined to decreases in gray matter volume and enlargement of the lateral and third ventricles. Global gray matter volume has been reported to progressively decrease in childhood-onset and chronic schizophrenia. Global gray matter volumes have not been examined longitudinally in patients with first-episode schizophrenia.