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Psychosomatic Disorders in Mothers and Schizophrenia in Daughters

C. Jack Friedman, PhD; Alfred S. Friedman, PhD

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1972;27(5):611-617.

Abstract
This large-scale study of psychogenic factors related to parentchild sex concordance in schizophrenia compared the incidence of psychosomatic disorders vs the incidence of organic, nonpsychosomatic disorders in mothers of female schizophrenics, mothers of male schizophrenics, and mothers of nonschizophrenic offspring. The mothers of female schizophrenics had a significantly greater incidence of psychosomatic disorders, but no greater incidence of organic, nonpsychosomatic disorders than either of the other two groups of mothers.

This new finding appears to be quite consistent with earlier epidemiological findings of greater incidence of mother-daughter pair sex concordance for schizophrenia and with "sex-role identification" psychological theories in schizophrenia. This finding may not be specific to schizophrenia and research is indicated to determine whether it holds for mothers of daughters who have psychiatric disorders other than schizophrenia.

Author Affiliations
Philadelphia

From the Philadelphia Psychiatric Center, Philadelphia.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication June 30, 1972.

Reprint requests to Philadelphia Psychiatric Center, Ford Rd and Monument Ave, Philadelphia, Pa 19131 (Dr. C. Jack Friedman).