The purpose of this article is to provide a high-level review of …

• Introduction
• Etiological Clues
• Unpacking the Family History Risk Factor
• Genomewide Linkage Studies of Schizophrenia
• Association Studies of Schizophrenia
• Synthesis
• Public Health Implications
• Glossary
• References
• Figures
• Tables

Biology Articles » Genetics » Behavioral Genetics » The Genetics of Schizophrenia » Etiological Clues

Etiological Clues

- The Genetics of Schizophrenia

A substantial body of epidemiological research has established a set of risk factors for schizophrenia. A subset of this work is summarized in Figure 1. Of a large set of pre- and antenatal risk factors [6], having a first-degree relative with schizophrenia is associated with an odds ratio of almost ten. The general impact of some of the risk factors in Figure 1 remains uncertain, and, additionally, migrant status, urban residence, cannabis use, and biological sex are supported as risk factors for schizophrenia. Although the attributable risk of some of these risk factors may be greater (e.g., place and season of birth) [7], the size of the odds ratio for family history suggests that searching for the familial determinants of schizophrenia is rational for etiological research.