OLFACTORY FUNCTION IN MONOZYGOTIC TWINS DISCORDANT FOR SCHIZOPHRENIA

Objective: Abnormalities of olfactory identification ability have been proposed as a marker of cerebral dysfunction in schizophrenia. The au thors studied the potential role of genetic factors in olfactory dysfu nction by assessing monozygotic twins discordant for schizophrenia and marched comparison subjects. Method: The subjects were 12 Pairs of mo nozygotic twins discordant for schizophrenia and 12 healthy subjects m atched for sex and age. Each subject completed the University of Penns ylvania Smell Identification Test. Results: The combined twin group sc ored significantly lower on smell identification than did the comparis on group. The affected and unaffected twin groups did not differ from each other. Conclusions: Genetic factors may contribute to cerebral dy sfunction as assessed by olfactory identification ability.