Original Research
Morbid risk of schizophrenia amongst relatives of schizophrenia probands: A family-controlled study
Submitted: 18 October 2017 | Published: 26 November 2018
About the author(s)
Justus U. Onu, Department of Clinical Services, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, NigeriaJude U. Ohaeri, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nigeria
Ngozi N. Unaogu, Department of Clinical Services, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Nigeria
Chikaodili M. Inechi, Department of Clinical Services, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Nigeria
Nwamaka B. Nweze, Department of Clinical Services, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Nigeria
Vincent N. Ubochi, Department of Clinical Services, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital
Jojo U. Onwukwe, Department of Clinical Services, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Nigeria
Abstract
Introduction: There is a dearth of data on heritability of schizophrenia in Africa. The few African studies that addressed familial psychiatric morbidity in schizophrenia involved relatively small sample sizes and addressed psychiatric morbidity only in first-degree relatives. The present study sought to improve upon the methodology of previous African studies, and widen the scope to second- and third-degree relatives with a view to enriching the field of genetic epidemiology in Africa.
Methods: This study elicited information on the morbid risk of schizophrenia amongst 5259 relatives of schizophrenia probands (n = 138) and 6734 relatives of healthy controls (n = 138) through direct interview of patients, available relatives of patients and controls. Diagnosis of probands was confirmed using Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Through a direct interview of 138 patients and their available relatives, a family history approach using the Family Interview for Genetic Studies was utilised to obtain information on the morbid risk for all relatives that could be recalled. The same approach was utilised for the interview of the controls (aged 45 years and above) and their relatives. Morbid risk estimates were calculated using the Weinberg shorter method.
Results: Morbid risk for schizophrenia in the first-, second- and third-degree relatives of schizophrenia probands was 10.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 10.6–11.2), 4.2% (95% CI = 4.1–4.3) and 3.9% (95% CI = 3.6–4.2), respectively, compared with 2.6% (95% CI = 2.5–2.7), 1.6% (95% CI = 1.5–1.7) and 1.5% (95% CI = 1.4–1.6), respectively, of the healthy control group.
Conclusion: The findings support the widely noted impression that schizophrenia significantly aggregates in families of schizophrenia probands more than healthy controls.
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Crossref Citations
1. Family, twin and adoption studies of severe mental disorders in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review
Justus U. Onu, Temitope I. Olatayo, Anurika C. Okorie, Jude U. Ohaeri
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology vol: 58 issue: 5 first page: 685 year: 2023
doi: 10.1007/s00127-022-02407-7