UPDATE OF HIGH-RISK RESEARCH - 1987-1997

In this article, prospective high-risk studies of schizophrenia are re viewed, with a focus on the studies that have reported new findings si nce 1987. It is concluded that the major findings generated by the fir st generation of high-risk studies are as follows: (I) genetic transmi ssion of a susceptibility to schizophrenia is strongly supported; (2) environmental risk factors have not as yet been conclusively identifie d; (3) impaired attention remains the strongest candidate biobehaviora l marker of a susceptibility to schizophrenia; (4) eye-movement dysfun ctions also have considerable marker potential, but have not yet been demonstrated to be valid childhood predictors of illness; and (5) ther e is increasing evidence in support of neuromotor abnormalities in ear ly childhood (up to age two) to be susceptibility markers. A newly ini tiated second generation of high-risk studies, which has the potential to resolve many of the unanswered questions about risk factors, is al so discussed.