Volumes of Brain Structures in Twins Discordant for Schizophrenia

Abstract
SCHIZOPHRENIA is a severe chronic psychiatric disorder that affects around 1% of the general population.1 Although its cause is unknown, family, twin, and adoption studies have established the importance of genetic factors. Indeed, the risk to develop schizophrenia increases with the degree of kinship and is highest (48%) in monozygotic (MZ) twins, who share the same genome.2 Environmental factors, such as intrauterine and perinatal factors, are involved as well.3-5 However, the relative contributions of genetic and environmental factors to the cause of schizophrenia remain equivocal.6