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Matching for Education in Studies of Schizophrenia

Matching for Education in Studies of Schizophrenia Abstract To the Editor.— Choosing an appropriate control group is difficult in the experimental design of studies of patients with schizophrenia. Many investigators choose to match patient and control groups with respect to education as well as age and gender. The dilemma posed by the decision to match for education is highlighted by the recent report by Goldberg et al1 In pairs of identical twins discordant for schizophrenia with the same genotype and socioeconomic background of origin, the 16 ill twins completed an average of almost 2 years less education than their unaffected cotwins (mean for affected twins, 13.8 years; mean for unaffected twins, 15.6 years). This difference reflects the discrepancy between educational potential and actual attainment in individuals with schizophrenia, presumably a consequence of the disease process. The twin data offer additional supportive evidence for the hypothesized downward drift in social class associated with schizophrenia.2,3To the extent References 1. Goldberg TE, Ragland JD, Torrey EF, Gold JM, Bigelow LB, Weinberger DR. Neuropsychological assessment of monozygotic twins discordant for schizophrenia . Arch Gen Psychiatry . 1990;47:1066-1072.Crossref 2. Dohrenwend BP, Dohrenwend BS. Social Status and Psychological Disorder: a Causal Inquiry . New York, NY: WileyInterscience; 1969. 3. Wender PH, Rosenthal D, Kety SS, Schulsinger F, Welner J. Social class and psychopathology in adoptees: a natural experimental method for separating the roles of genetic and experimental factors . Arch Gen Psychiatry . 1973;28:318-325.Crossref 4. Meehl PE. Nuisance variables and the ex post facto design . In: Radner M, Winokur S, eds. Minnesota Studies in the Philosophy of Science . Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press; 1970:373-402. 5. Risch N. Estimating morbidity risks in relatives: the effect of reduced fertility . Behav Genet . 1983;13:441-451.Crossref http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Archives of General Psychiatry American Medical Association

Matching for Education in Studies of Schizophrenia

Resnick, Susan M.
Archives of General Psychiatry , Volume 49 (3) – Mar 1, 1992
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Matching for Education in Studies of Schizophrenia

Abstract

Abstract To the Editor.— Choosing an appropriate control group is difficult in the experimental design of studies of patients with schizophrenia. Many investigators choose to match patient and control groups with respect to education as well as age and gender. The dilemma posed by the decision to match for education is highlighted by the recent report by Goldberg et al1 In pairs of identical twins discordant for schizophrenia with the same genotype and socioeconomic background of...
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References (6)

Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 1992 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
0003-990X
eISSN
1598-3636
DOI
10.1001/archpsyc.1992.01820030078011
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Abstract To the Editor.— Choosing an appropriate control group is difficult in the experimental design of studies of patients with schizophrenia. Many investigators choose to match patient and control groups with respect to education as well as age and gender. The dilemma posed by the decision to match for education is highlighted by the recent report by Goldberg et al1 In pairs of identical twins discordant for schizophrenia with the same genotype and socioeconomic background of origin, the 16 ill twins completed an average of almost 2 years less education than their unaffected cotwins (mean for affected twins, 13.8 years; mean for unaffected twins, 15.6 years). This difference reflects the discrepancy between educational potential and actual attainment in individuals with schizophrenia, presumably a consequence of the disease process. The twin data offer additional supportive evidence for the hypothesized downward drift in social class associated with schizophrenia.2,3To the extent References 1. Goldberg TE, Ragland JD, Torrey EF, Gold JM, Bigelow LB, Weinberger DR. Neuropsychological assessment of monozygotic twins discordant for schizophrenia . Arch Gen Psychiatry . 1990;47:1066-1072.Crossref 2. Dohrenwend BP, Dohrenwend BS. Social Status and Psychological Disorder: a Causal Inquiry . New York, NY: WileyInterscience; 1969. 3. Wender PH, Rosenthal D, Kety SS, Schulsinger F, Welner J. Social class and psychopathology in adoptees: a natural experimental method for separating the roles of genetic and experimental factors . Arch Gen Psychiatry . 1973;28:318-325.Crossref 4. Meehl PE. Nuisance variables and the ex post facto design . In: Radner M, Winokur S, eds. Minnesota Studies in the Philosophy of Science . Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press; 1970:373-402. 5. Risch N. Estimating morbidity risks in relatives: the effect of reduced fertility . Behav Genet . 1983;13:441-451.Crossref

Journal

Archives of General Psychiatry – American Medical Association

Published: Mar 1, 1992

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