EVIDENCE FOR A SUSCEPTIBILITY LOCUS FOR SCHIZOPHRENIA ON CHROMOSOME 6PTER-P22

We have performed linkage analysis in 186 multiplex families to search for genes that predispose to schizophrenia. Under a model with partia lly dominant inheritance, moderately broad disease definition and assu ming locus homogeneity, a lod score of 3.2 was obtained for D6S260 on chromosome 6p23. A multipoint lod score of 3.9 (P=2.3 x 10(-5)) was ac hieved when the F13A1 and D6S260 loci were analysed, allowing for locu s heterogeneity. Adjusted for testing of multiple models, the multipoi nt lod score of 3.9 under heterogeneity has a genome wide significance of between 5-8%. The nonparametric affected pedigree member test prov ided. results (P=3 x 10(-4)) also supporting this finding. Our finding s provide supportive evidence for a susceptibility locus for schizophr enia on distal chromosome 6p, and support a model of locus heterogenei ty.