Interaction of genetic vulnerability to schizophrenia and family functioning in adopted-away offspring of mothers with schizophrenia

Associations of Duration of Preadoption Out-of-home Care, Genetic Risk for Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders and Adoptive Family Functioning with Later Psychiatric Disorders of Adoptees

The objective was to examine the impacts of duration of preadoption out-of-home care and adoptive family functioning on later psychiatric morbidity of adoptees with high (HR) and low (LR) genetic risk for schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The study uses nationwide data from the Finnish Adoptive Family Study of Schizophrenia. The study population in this substudy consisted of 43 h adoptees and 128 LR adoptees. Of these adoptees, 90 had spent 0-6 months and 81 over 6 months in preadoption out-of-home care. The family functioning of adoptive families was assessed based on Global Family Ratings and psychiatric disorders on DSM-III-R criteria. The results showed that among the adoptees with over 6 months in preadoption out-of-home care, the likelihood for psychiatric disorders was significantly increased in HR adoptees compared to LR adoptees. In adoptees with 6 months or less in preadoption out-of-home care, an increased likelihood for psychiatric disorders was found among those living in adoptive families with dysfunctional processes. These findings indicate that especially for HR children, a well-functioning early caregiving environment is crucial in terms of subsequent mental wellbeing. The results emphasize that when adoption is necessary, early placement and well-functioning adoptive family environment are beneficial to children.

Deficits in adolescent social functioning, dysfunctional family processes and genetic risk for schizophrenia spectrum disorders as risk factors for later psychiatric morbidity of adoptees

Social functioning deficits during adolescence are associated with later psychiatric morbidity, particularly in offspring at high genetic risk for schizophrenia spectrum disorders. However, a shortcoming of earlier study findings is the lack of control of the impact of the family rearing environment. The study was aimed to examine the association of adoptees' social functioning during adolescence, adoptive family functioning, and adoptees' high (HR) or low (LR) genetic risk for schizophrenia spectrum disorders with adoptees' later psychiatric morbidity. The present subsample from the nationwide Finnish Adoptive Family Study of Schizophrenia included 57 HR and 60 LR adoptees. Adolescent social functioning was assessed using UCLA Social Attainment Survey (UCLA SAS). Adoptive family functioning was based on Global Family Ratings (GFRs) and psychiatric disorders on DSM-III-R criteria. The results indicated that, after controlling for adoptive family functioning and genetic risk for schizophrenia spectrum disorders, deficits in peer relationships during adolescence were associated with an increased likelihood of psychiatric morbidity of adoptees. Our findings highlight social functioning deficits during adolescence, specifically in peer relationships, as plausible independent risk factors for later psychiatric disorders. These results can be utilized in identifying possible at-risk groups and targets for prevention and in developing preventive strategies.

Dysfunctional family functioning in high socioeconomic status families as a risk factor for the development of psychiatric disorders in adoptees: the Finnish Adoptive Family Study of Schizophrenia

PURPOSE

Earlier findings indicate that socioeconomic status (SES) of family associates with family functioning. This study examined the impacts of family functioning and genetic risk for schizophrenia on psychiatric morbidity of adoptees in families of high SES (HSES) and low SES (LSES).

METHODS

The study population is a subgroup of the Finnish Adoptive Family Study of Schizophrenia. Of the adoptees, 152 had high genetic risk for schizophrenia spectrum disorders (HR) and 151 adoptees had low risk (LR). Of the adoptees, 185 (HR = 94, LR = 91) were raised in high-SES (HSES) families and 118 (HR = 58, LR = 60) in low-SES (LSES) families. The family SES was determined by the occupational status of the main provider of the family. The functioning of adoptive families was assessed based on Global Family Ratings (GFRs) and psychiatric disorders on DSM-III-R criteria.

RESULTS

In the HSES families, the psychiatric morbidity of the adoptees was emphasized by HR (OR = 4.28, CI 2.14-8.56) and dysfunctional family processes (OR = 6.44, CI 2.75-15.04). In the LSES families, the adoptees´ psychiatric morbidity was almost significantly increased by HR (OR = 2.10, CI 0.99-4.45), but not by dysfunctional family processes (OR = 1.33, CI 0.53-3.34).

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that in HSES families, dysfunctional family processes and HR for schizophrenia increased the likelihoods for the development of psychiatric disorders in adoptees. The results can be utilized in identifying risk factors in the development of psychiatric disorders and focusing preventative strategies on risk groups with acknowledging the importance of family functioning.

Adolescent Social Functioning Deficits in Association With Adoptive Family Functioning and Genetic Risk for Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders: The Finnish Adoptive Family Study of Schizophrenia

Social functioning deficits (SFDs) during adolescence represent potential vulnerability indicators to schizophrenia spectrum disorders, but little is known about how both family environmental and genetic factors contribute to SFDs. The aim of this study was to examine the association of adoptees' adolescent social functioning with adoptive family functioning and adoptees' high (HR) or low (LR) genetic risk for schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The present subsample from the nationwide Finnish Adoptive Family Study of Schizophrenia included 88 HR and 83 LR adoptees. Adolescent social functioning was assessed using UCLA Social Attainment Survey. Assessment of adoptive family functioning was based on Global Family Ratings. Results indicated that dysfunctional family processes and high genetic risk for schizophrenia spectrum disorders contributed approximately equally to adoptees' adolescent social functioning. Our findings underscore the importance of functional family processes in adolescent social functioning, particularly in individuals at high genetic risk for severe psychiatric disorder.

Adolescent social functioning in offspring at high risk for schizophrenia spectrum disorders in the Finnish Adoptive Family Study of Schizophrenia

BACKGROUND

Children and adolescents with a genetic risk for schizophrenia are often found to have poorer social functioning compared to their controls. However, less is known about high-risk offspring who have not been reared by a biological parent with schizophrenia. The purpose of this study was to examine deficits in social functioning in adolescence as a possible factor related to genetic vulnerability to schizophrenia spectrum disorders, and also to examine possible gender differences in these associations.

METHOD

The present sample consisted of 88 genetic high-risk (HR) adoptees whose biological mothers were diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and 83 genetic low-risk (LR) adoptees with biological mothers with non-schizophrenia spectrum disorders or no psychiatric disorders. Adoptees' social functioning at ages 16-20 was assessed using the UCLA Social Attainment Survey.

RESULTS

Compared to LR adoptees, HR adoptees displayed statistically significant deficits in their peer relationships, involvement in activities and overall social functioning during adolescence. HR males were distinguished from LR males by their significantly poorer overall social functioning. Compared to HR females, HR males showed significant deficits in their romantic relationships. Of marginal significance was that HR females displayed more social functioning deficits relative to LR females, mainly in the areas of peer relationships, involvement in activities and overall social functioning.

CONCLUSIONS

These results from the adoption and high-risk study design suggest that deficits in social functioning in adolescence may be related to genetic vulnerability to schizophrenia spectrum disorders and that some of these deficits may be gender-specific.