Kety Et Al (1963) Adoption Study

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

Genetic basis for schizophrenia by comparing biological and adoptive family of a schizophrenia- sufferer

Question 2

Procedure (3)

Answer 2

• Panel of 4 Danish psychiatrists used medical records to diagnose family members.
• Identities assigned to adoptive family groups (IA=index adoptees) and (CA= control adoptees) with same for biological family groups
• Then diagnosed family members in categories:
  —B1-B3 like index participant
  —D1 uncertain chronic S
  —D2 uncertain acute S
  —D3 uncertain borderline S
  — C inadequate personality

Question 3

Results (2)

Answer 3

All relatives the categories as ‘schizophrenic spectrum disorders’ (SSD)
Found more signs of SSD in biological family than adoptive family + more SSD in bio families than control’s bio family

Question 4

Conclusion (3)

Answer 4

Adoptees more likely to have schizophrenia in bio family than adoptive family
Bio family more likely to have schizophrenia than families of controls
Schizophrenia is genetic

Question 5

Generalisability (3)

Answer 5

Population validity
Ethnocentrism
Culture bias

Question 6

Reliability (6)

Answer 6

Test-retest reliability
Empirical evidence
Standardised procedure
Inter-rated reliability
Unbiased
Subjective interpretation

Question 7

Application (2)

Answer 7

Families adopting
Diathesis stress model suggests still requires a trigger

Question 8

Validity (5)

Answer 8

Construct validity
Concurrent validity
Reductionist
Vague
Biased

Question 9

Ethics (4)

Answer 9

Consent
Social responsibility, scientific integrity, harm

Question 10

Sample (2)

Answer 10

463 relatives of 34 schizophrenic patients which included:
- 16 B1
- 7 B2
- 11 B3

33 Controls selected and matched on:
- age
- gender
- age adopted
- social class