A family with twins discordant for schizophrenia: a case study.

Abstract

Summary A study of a family containing twins discordant for schizophrenia, involving the analysis of results of interviews and projective tests administered to the family members. The family consisted of twenty-one year old male twins, their mother, and maternal aunt. Protocols reveal the family is divided into two subgroups, with the mother and one twin playing the passive, dependent, submissive roles; the aunt and the other twin playing the active, independent, aggressive roles. The results are interpreted as supporting the view that family themes may be transmitted from generation to generation to form the basis for individual character structure and types of perception.