Topic 2: Key Study - Gottesman et al (2011)

Question 1

What is the background of Gottesman et al (2011)?

Answer 1

There was very little research into psychiatric dual-mating. Gottesman had reported findings that it was 4 times riskier for a child to inherit a mental illness if both parents had it. E.g. If both parents had schizophrenia, the concordance rate of the child would be 48% and if both parents had bipolar disorder the concordance rate would be 28%.

Question 2

What was the aim of the Gottesman et al (2011) study?

Answer 2

To calculate the risk to offspring of having both parents with a mental disorder.

Question 3

What was the sample?

Answer 3

2.7 Million people from Denmark who had a mother and father with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

Question 4

How was the sample distributed into groups?

Answer 4

Both schizophrenic group (196 couples, 270 Children), Both bipolar disorder group (83 Couples, 146 children), Single schizophrenia group (8006 couplesl, 14,000 children), Single bipolar disorder group (11,995 couples, 23,000 children). The rest were used as a control group.

Question 5

What was the method used?

Answer 5

Cohort study and natural experiment.

Question 6

What was the procedure of the Gottesman et al (2011) study?

Answer 6

Parents were diagnosed of either bipolar disorder or schizophrenia in accordance to WHO’s ICD. Then children were diagnosed of any mental illness according to the ICD to calculate the risk of having a mental disorder because of parents.

Question 7

What was the results for children with both parents who had a mental illness?

Answer 7

• 27% children had schizophrenia by the age of 52.
• 67.5% children with schizophrenic parents developed any mental illness.
• 25% children had a bipolar disorder diagnosis.
• 44% children with bipolar disorder parents developed any mental illness.

Question 8

What were the results for children who had one parent with a mental illness?

Answer 8

• 7% children had a schizophrenia diagnosis.
• 12% children who had schizophrenia parents developed any mental illness.
• 4% children had bipolar disorder.
• 9% children with parents with bipolar disorder developed any mental illnesses.

Question 9

What are two conclusions of the Gottesman et al (2011) study?

Answer 9

1. Both parens having a mental illness means that it is more likely for their child to have the specific disorder and other general mental illnesses.
2. Can be used to support the genetic explanation of mental illnesses and is useful in genetic counselling.