Schizophr Res. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2008 Mar 1. Published in final edited form as: PMCID: PMC1904485 NIHMSID: NIHMS20010
The UCLA Family Study, D. L. Fogelson,1 K. H. Nuechterlein,1,2 R. A. Asarnow,1,2 D. L. Payne,1 K. L. Subotnik,1 K. C. Jacobson,3 M. C. Neale,3 and K. S. Kendler3
Abstract
It is unresolved whether avoidant personality disorder [APD] is an independent schizophrenia [Sz]-spectrum personality disorder [PD]. Some studies find APD and social anxiety symptoms [Sxs] to be a separable dimension of psychopathology in relatives [Rels] of schizophrenics while other studies find avoidant Sxs to be correlated with schizotypal and paranoid Sxs.
Rates of APD among first degree Rels of Sz probands, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD] probands, and community control [CC] probands were examined. Further analyses examined rates when controlling for the presence of schizotypal [SPD] and paranoid [PPD] personality disorders, differences in APD Sxs between relative groups, and whether APD in Rels of Szs reflects a near miss for another Sz-spectrum PD.
362 first degree Rels of Sz probands, 201 relatives of ADHD probands, and 245 Rels of CC probands were interviewed for the presence of DSM-III-R Axis I and II disorders. Diagnoses, integrating family history, interview information, and medical records, were determined.
APD occurred more frequently in Rels of Sz probands compared to CC probands [p