Journal article
Adoption, family relations and psychotic symptoms among Palauan adolescents who are genetically at risk for developing schizophrenia
L Ierago, C Malsol, T Singeo, Y Kishigawa, F Blailes, L Ord, P Florsheim, L Phillips, S Kuartei, J Tiobech, B Watson, H Ngiralmau
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Published : 2010
Abstract
Purpose: This paper focuses on the role of adoption and family relations as moderators of genetic risk for psychotic disorders. Methods: Participants included 184 adolescents in the Republic of Palau identified to be at genetic risk for schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Palau is an island nation in Micronesia with a lifetime prevalence of 1.99% for schizophrenia and 2.67% for psychotic disorders more broadly defined [24]. In Palauan culture, kinship adoption is a common cultural practice; 47 of the 184 participants had been adopted at an early age. The current study was designed to test the hypothesis that adoption would function as a protective factor among Palauan youth at genet..
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Awarded by National Institute of Mental Health
Funding Acknowledgements
This study was supported with funds from National Institute of Mental Health grant number MH5418 and Fogarty International Center Grant number 5R21TW007803. We would like to thank Marina Myles-Worsley for facilitating access to data and her helpful comments throughout the preparation of the manuscript.