Clinical characteristics of familial schizophrenia.

INTRODUCTION 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. METHODS 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. RESULTS 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. CONCLUSION Patients with a family history of mental disorders present different demographics and clinical features than patients without a family history of psychiatric disorders.