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Schizophrenia more prevalent in what types of twins, what does this suggest

User Dscl
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Final answer:

Schizophrenia is more prevalent in identical twins than in fraternal twins, indicating a genetic component. Additionally, environmental factors interact with genetic predispositions, as evidenced by higher rates of schizophrenia among high-risk individuals in disturbed environments.

Step-by-step explanation:

The prevalence of schizophrenia is higher in identical (monozygotic) twins compared to fraternal (dizygotic) twins. This finding suggests that schizophrenia has a genetic component. Studies reveal that the risk of developing schizophrenia is significantly increased in individuals with a high genetic risk who are also raised in disturbed family environments, as opposed to those from healthy family environments or those with low genetic risk. Notably, a 2004 study found that the likelihood of adoptees with high genetic risk (biological mothers with schizophrenia) developing the disorder was 36.8% in disturbed environments and 5.8% in healthy environments, supporting the gene-environment interaction hypothesis.

User Ciaran McHale
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