Environmental factors related to schizophrenia in psychophysiologically labile high-risk males.

Previous research indicates that certain parameters of electrodermal functioning are related to schizophrenia and risk for schizophrenia. This study investigated childhood environmental factors in two subgroups of high-risk males (offspring of schizophrenic mothers): those who showed patterns of electrodermal lability in childhood and later became schizophrenic, and a matched subgroup who showed similar patterns of electrodermal functioning but did not become schizophrenic. The variables examined were parental absence, institutionalization of the child, and quality of the home and neighborhood. The schizophrenic group had experienced significantly more paternal absence during the 2nd year of life. The schizophrenic subjects also experienced significantly more childhood institutionalization, particularly in the 1st and 6th through 10th years of life. The quality of home and neighborhood and maternal absence did not distinguish the two groups. The findings are interpreted as indicating the importance of paternal presence in ameliorating the disruptive effects of the schizophrenic mother on vulnerable male offspring.