TY - JOUR
T1 - Temperament and character as schizophrenia-related endophenotypes in non-psychotic siblings
AU - Smith, Matthew J.
AU - Cloninger, C. Robert
AU - Harms, Michael P.
AU - Csernansky, John G.
N1 - Funding Information:
Support for the preparation of this manuscript was provided by the Conte Center for the Neuroscience of Mental Disorders (P50 MH071616) and NIH grant R01 MH056584 (P.I. John G. Csernansky, M.D.); the Sansone Family Center for Well Being (R01 MH060879; Principle Investigator: C. Robert Cloninger, M.D.); and NIMH training grant T32 MH17104 (Principle Investigator: Linda B. Cottler, Ph.D.). Funding sources had no further role in study design; in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the paper for publication.
PY - 2008/9
Y1 - 2008/9
N2 - Background: Quantitative endophenotypes are needed to better understand the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. The psychobiological model of temperament and character suggests that personality traits are heritable and regulated by brain systems influencing schizophrenia susceptibility. Thus, measures of temperament and character may serve as schizophrenia-related endophenotypes in individuals with schizophrenia and their non-psychotic siblings. Methods: Individuals with schizophrenia (n = 35), their non-psychotic siblings (n = 34), controls (n = 63), and their siblings (n = 56) participated in a study of the clinical, neurocognitive and neuromorphological characteristics of schizophrenia. A mixed-model approach assessed group differences on the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). Neurocognitive deficits and psychopathology were correlated with the TCI. Configurations of TCI domains were examined using a generalized linear model. Results: Individuals with schizophrenia and their non-psychotic siblings had higher harm avoidance than controls and their siblings. Individuals with schizophrenia had lower self-directedness and cooperativeness, and higher self-transcendence than their non-psychotic siblings, controls, and the siblings of controls. Neurocognition was not related to temperament and character in individuals with schizophrenia or either control group. In non-psychotic siblings, self-directedness and cooperativeness were correlated with working memory and crystallized IQ. Conclusion: Evidence supports harm avoidance as a schizophrenia-related endophenotype. An increased risk of schizophrenia may be associated with asociality (configured as high harm avoidance and low reward dependence), schizotypy (configured as low self-directedness, low cooperativeness, and high self-transcendence), and neurocognitive deficits (poor executive functioning, working/episodic memory, attention, and low IQ). The non-psychotic siblings demonstrated features of a mature character profile including strong crystallized IQ, which may confer protection against psychopathology.
AB - Background: Quantitative endophenotypes are needed to better understand the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. The psychobiological model of temperament and character suggests that personality traits are heritable and regulated by brain systems influencing schizophrenia susceptibility. Thus, measures of temperament and character may serve as schizophrenia-related endophenotypes in individuals with schizophrenia and their non-psychotic siblings. Methods: Individuals with schizophrenia (n = 35), their non-psychotic siblings (n = 34), controls (n = 63), and their siblings (n = 56) participated in a study of the clinical, neurocognitive and neuromorphological characteristics of schizophrenia. A mixed-model approach assessed group differences on the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). Neurocognitive deficits and psychopathology were correlated with the TCI. Configurations of TCI domains were examined using a generalized linear model. Results: Individuals with schizophrenia and their non-psychotic siblings had higher harm avoidance than controls and their siblings. Individuals with schizophrenia had lower self-directedness and cooperativeness, and higher self-transcendence than their non-psychotic siblings, controls, and the siblings of controls. Neurocognition was not related to temperament and character in individuals with schizophrenia or either control group. In non-psychotic siblings, self-directedness and cooperativeness were correlated with working memory and crystallized IQ. Conclusion: Evidence supports harm avoidance as a schizophrenia-related endophenotype. An increased risk of schizophrenia may be associated with asociality (configured as high harm avoidance and low reward dependence), schizotypy (configured as low self-directedness, low cooperativeness, and high self-transcendence), and neurocognitive deficits (poor executive functioning, working/episodic memory, attention, and low IQ). The non-psychotic siblings demonstrated features of a mature character profile including strong crystallized IQ, which may confer protection against psychopathology.
KW - Endophenotypes
KW - Personality
KW - Schizophrenia
KW - Temperament and character
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U2 - 10.1016/j.schres.2008.06.025
DO - 10.1016/j.schres.2008.06.025
M3 - Article
C2 - 18718739
AN - SCOPUS:50249174441
VL - 104
SP - 198
EP - 205
JO - Schizophrenia Research
JF - Schizophrenia Research
SN - 0920-9964
IS - 1-3
ER -
