M. Battaglia et S. Torgersen, SCHIZOTYPAL DISORDER - AT THE CROSSROADS OF GENETICS AND NOSOLOGY, Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica, 94(5), 1996, pp. 303-310
The aim of this paper is to review the available evidence in support o
f the correctness of including the DSM-III/III-R schizotypal personali
ty disorder (SPD) in the schizophrenia spectrum, to discuss the compon
ents that may account for the familial segregation of SPD, and to cons
ider the implications for research and clinical use of this diagnostic
category. The majority of the available data from genetic epidemiolog
y studies, starting from probands with schizophrenia or with SPD, sugg
est that SPD is one of several phenotypes of liability for the schizop
hrenia spectrum. Recent twin studies suggest that the affect-constrict
ed and eccentric aspects of SPD are the features that truly belong to
the spectrum of schizophrenia, sharing important genetic influences. H
owever, other components are more useful for the identification of SPD
in clinical settings, and these may be the specific focus of treatmen
t. The present categorization appears to be a reasonable trade-off for
the purposes of both the investigator and the clinician, even though
different components within SPD may have different origins and can be
selectively emphasized according to the different aims involved.