S. Mukherjee et al., ABNORMAL GROWTH OF CULTURED SKIN FIBROBLASTS ASSOCIATED WITH POOR PREMORBID HISTORY IN SCHIZOPHRENIC-PATIENTS, Schizophrenia research, 13(3), 1994, pp. 233-237
The relations of abnormal growth of cultured skin fibroblasts, as mani
fest in prolonged doubling time, and a history of impaired childhood p
remorbid functioning, separately for social and school (instrumental)
functioning were examined in 22 schizophrenic patients. Prolonged doub
ling time (> 2 weeks) was significantly associated with poorer childho
od social functioning, even after controlling for variance due to age,
sex, race, and age at onset of illness. Doubling time was not associa
ted with school performance scores. The findings indicate that the cel
lular or molecular process(es) underlying abnormal growth of skin fibr
oblasts may be involved in, or associated with, aberrant biological pr
ocesses that contribute to early dyssocial behavior in schizophrenic p
atients.