Rudin's 1916 Monograph: On the Inheritance and Primary Origin of Dementia Praecox.

ABSTRACT: In 1916, Ernst Rüdin published the first modern family study in the history of psychiatric genetics, the major goal of which was to test whether the pattern of risk in the siblings of dementia praecox (DP) probands followed Mendelian expectations. He utilized systematic ascertainment of probands and multisourced diagnostic assessments of probands and relatives, applying the narrow Kraepelinian concept of DP. In a novel step, he collaborated closely with a statistical geneticist-Wilhelm Weinberg-and applied his sibling, proband, and age correction methods. In his key sample-701 sibships when neither parent had DP-the morbid risk for DP in siblings was 4.48%, much lower than 25% expected for a recessive disorder. Risk for DP was increased by alcoholism or other mental disorders in parents. O

SUBMITTER: Kendler KS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9581072 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature