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There is growing evidence of an association between negative social comparisons (NSC) and both psychosis, and psychosis proneness. The majority of the work thus far, however, has focused largely on one type of NSC, namely, social rank. Whilst social rank is clearly an important factor, an individual's perception of belonging is likely also of importance; particularly, when considering individuals from collectivistic cultures such as China, where greater emphasis is placed on fitting into the group. There is also limited research investigating what factors may contribute towards the relationship between NSC and psychosis proneness, and to what extent this relationship may be due to common familial factors. To address these issues, we examined whether (1) Social rank and perceived belonging predict negative, positive and depressive psychotic experiences in a Chinese, adolescent, twin and sibling population, (2) coping styles moderate the impact of these relationships and (3), there is a familial association between NSC and psychosis proneness. Both social rank and perceived belonging were found to predict the negative and depressive dimensions of psychosis. These relationships were moderated by problem-focused coping styles. Interestingly, the association between perception of belonging, and negative psychotic experiences was familial—and stronger in Monozygotic twins—indicating perhaps shared aetiology due to common genes. Our findings highlight NSC as potential vulnerability markers for negative and depressive psychotic experiences, and suggest potentially different aetiological pathways amongst different NSC and different psychotic experiences. On a clinical level, our findings emphasize the need to consider coping styles when treating at-risk individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Purpose: To test whether firstly, different parental rearing components were associated with different dimensions of psychiatric symptoms in adulthood, secondly BDNF-Val66Met polymorphism moderated this association and thirdly, this association was due to genetic confounding. Method: Perceived parental rearing according to Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), psychiatric symptoms evaluated with the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and the BDNF-Val66Met polymorphism were analyzed in a sample of 232 adult twins from the general population. Results: In the whole sample, paternal care was negatively associated with depression. Maternal overprotection was positively associated with paranoid ideation, obsession-compulsion and somatization. Gene-environment interaction effects were detected between the BDNF-Val66Met polymorphism and maternal care on phobic anxiety, paternal care on hostility, maternal overprotection on somatization and paternal overprotection also in somatization. In the subsample of MZ twins, intrapair differences in maternal care were associated with anxiety, paranoid ideation and somatization. Conclusions: Met carriers were, in general, more sensitive to the effects of parental rearing compared to Val/Val carriers in relation to anxiety and somatization. Contra-intuitively, our findings suggest that high rates of maternal care might be of risk for Met carriers regarding anxiety. Results from analyses controlling for genetic confounding were in line with this finding. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Schizophrenia is associated with altered neural development. We assessed neurological soft signs (NSS) and dermatoglyphic anomalies (total a–b ridge count (TABRC) and total finger ridge count) in 15 pairs of twins concordant and discordant for schizophrenia. Within-pair differences in both NSS and TABRC scores were significantly greater in discordant compared to concordant monozygotic pairs. There was no significant difference in NSS and TABRC scores between subjects with schizophrenia and their co-twins without the illness. However, monozygotic discordant twins with schizophrenia had higher ABRCs on their right hands compared to their co-twins without the illness. These findings suggest that an unidentified environmental event acting between weeks 6 and 15 of gestation affects the development of monozygotic twins who go on to develop schizophrenia but does not have a corresponding effect on their co-twins who do not develop the illness. The effect of such an event on dermatoglyphic profiles appears lateralised to the right hand in affected twins. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduction: If death is only an "accident of life", according to the word of Bichat, then it can be brutal, unexpected and traumatic Objectives: We will show here the particular relationship between these particular children and their grandparents which will lead us to understand to a certain extent the trauma of this unexpected death. Methods: Exploitation and analysis of the patient file. Results:M73 years and F 63-years are the grandparents of J and his twin 5 years. J was suffering from recurrent tonsillitis, and his doctor decided to operate on him. The day of the operation, Maccompanied J. A few minutes after the doctor announce the death of J after the anesthesia. It was a shock said M. F was inconsolable and their daughter was stronger. Mand F are received in psychiatric onemonth after the death of J. They have since the death a reviviscence syndrome with flashback of the child playing and dragging in the house. F also presents an anxio-depressive syndrome. Conclusions: M-F took care of their little sons with kindness. The intensity of investment of this relationship with these twins testifies to the shock received by M and his wife to the unexpected and brutal announcement of the death of J on the operating table. F and Msuffer from post traumatic stress disorder. This text, showing the special relationship between these grandparents and their twin little sons, also raises the problem of traumatic death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder-its pathogenesis remains unclear, symptomatology as well as treatment outcomes vary among patients. Objectives: To report different treatment outcomes with different treatment approaches between two female monozygotic twins suffering from schizophrenia. Methods: Patients were clinically observed after diagnosis for five years, approximately twice per year. Their functionality level was evaluated based on daily activities. Results: Both twins were diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia during university (twin A at the age of 23, one year earlier than Twin B). Although twin A experienced a less severe premorbid disorder manifestation than her sister, she was hospitalized and treated with haloperidol, discontinued her education and minimized her social contacts, whereas twin B was treated in an outpatient setting with aripiprazole per os, was stabilized in 3 months' time, continued her studies and had a stable relationship. Twin A had a relapse 13 months after the diagnosis, experienced a second 3-month hospitalization and was discharged with amisulprid 600mg/day, refusing long-acting injectable treatment. After her sister's relapse, twin B decided to start long-acting aripiprazole to reduce the risk of another episode and protect her own functionality. Twin A had 3 more episodes in the following 3 years and is currently on clozapine, 75% disabled and without social contacts. Twin B has successfully graduated university, is married with a 5-month child and is still under long-acting injectable aripiprazole. Conclusions: Different treatment approaches may lead to different treatment outcomes in early onset schizophrenia, evenwhen patients share the same genome and environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction A bidirectional association between type 2 diabetes and depression has been consistently reported. It is associated with worse biomedical outcomes and increased mortality. One possible question is whether the co-occurrence of type 2 diabetes and depression is due to genetic and/or environmental vulnerabilities in common to the two traits. Aims To examine the genetic relationship between type 2 diabetes and depression at a population level. Objectives To quantify the genetic overlap between type 2 diabetes and depression using the Swedish Twin Registry. Method The study included 43,565 twin pairs (12,363 monozygotic pairs and 31,202 dizygotic pairs). The primary outcomes were lifetime diagnosis of type 2 diabetes and depression from the Swedish National Hospital Discharge Registry. Standard bivariate twin models were fitted to the raw data to estimate the genetic and environmental (co)variance of the two traits. Results Heritability estimates for lifetime diagnoses of type 2 diabetes and depression were similar to previous estimates, at 77% and 42% respectively. The phenotypic correlation between type 2 diabetes and depression was 0.14 (95%CI: 0.11-0.17), of which 58% was due to shared genetic influences. When covariates (age and gender) were included, the genetic contribution to the phenotypic correlation reduced to 51%. Conclusion This is the first study to demonstrate a small but significant genetic overlap between type 2 diabetes and depression at a population level, using hospital-registry records. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]