The offspring of schizophrenic parents in a North Swedish isolate

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Abstract
The children of schizophrenic parents born and residing in a North Swedish isolate during 1829-1960 were studied. The sample consists of 39 children whose parents were both schizophrenic and 514 children who had 1 schizophrenic parent. Controls were 624 children of unaffected parents of the same population and time period. Previous observations concerning lack of association between fecundity and schizophrenic psychoses were confirmed. The marriage rate for schizophrenics decreased, probably because of earlier diagnosis and earlier hospitalization. These changes most likely depend on the integration of the isolate into the welfare state, a considerable change as compared to conditions prevailing 30 or more yr ago. The late fetal death ratio and the infant mortality rate were significantly increased for the offspring of schizophrenic parents. The occurrence of schizophrenic psychoses and mental deficiency was significantly higher among children of schizophrenics. No association was found between the sex of the schizophrenic parent and the sex of their offspring, the incidence of stillbirths, the infant mortality rate and the incidence of schizophrenia or mental deficiency.