Schizophrenia: Genetics and...

For those who have read my prior posts, you already know that I am quite certain that serious mental disorders are biological in origin, with some of the bio components resting in genetics, and some in other environmental physical factors (i.e., not really "psychological" or psychological alone). A study presented in Nature this week (Nature Oct 26, 2007, pp. 576-577) discusses the impact of the maternal placental environment. It appears that when monozygotic twins share a placenta, the concordance rate is quite a bit higher than when they each have their own placenta. Furthermore, there is an impact of maternal infection, with a significantly higher rate of schizophrenia and other severe mental disorders in adult offspring, when pregnancy occurred in the midst of a flu epidemic. This has been confirmed with animal models. The article concludes with "..Although a genetic element clearly contributes to schizophrenia and other mental disorders, the maternal-fetal environment must also be taken into account. Environment can alter genetic outcome, and vice versa..." p 577.