1. The Copenhagen high risk study
Kety et al 1962
By Kelly and Selina

2. Aim
To investigate whether there is a biological predisposition in schizophrenia, researchers have suggested that this may occur in foetal development.

3. Procedure A longitudinal study
They identified 207 off springs of mothers diagnosed with schizophrenia (high risk)
Matched with a control group of 104 children with ‘healthy’ mothers (low risk)
Children were aged between years at the start of the study and were matched upon age, gender, place of residence and their background

4. Procdure continued…
The sample of children were given a variety of assessments of which their response was measured.
Assessments – response to mild/loud sounds, word association test, interview with parent, reaction to school report from teacher

5. Schizotypal personality
A disorder characterised by acentric behaviour and anomalies of thinking and affect which resemble those seen in schizophrenia.

6. Findings
Out of the high risk group 16.2% were diagnosed with schizophrenia compared to 1.9% in the low risk group
18.8% of the high risk group were diagnosed with schizotypal personality disorder whereas only 5% of the low risk group were diagnosed with schizotypal personality disorder.

7. Conclusion
The study supports that a large proportion of children with shizophrenic mothers suffers an elevation predisposition to schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Other factors that can increase the risk are; age of mother when her illness begins, number of relatives with schizophrenia
The schizotypal personality disorder is based on genetics

8. evaluation
A strength of this study is that it is supported by research such as the New york high risk project they found similar findings along with a 25 year follow up.