Premorbid adjustment in schizophrenia is thought important (1) as a predictor of current pathology and course, and (2) as a psychosocial expression of brain pathology preceding psychosis. Its valid and reliable measurement, however, pose a major challenge. To address this issue we interviewed 12 chronic male schizophrenic veterans and their first degree relatives, plus 12 age and social class o...

OBJECTIVE To identify factors predicting the long term course of complicated grief, depression, and suicide ideation in a community based sample of relatives bereaved through suicide. DESIGN Longitudinal cohort study. Included in the multilevel regression models were sociodemographic and personality features, mental health history, records of received help, long term complicated grief, depres...

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients frequently have high circulating tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels. We explored circulating TNF-α levels in SLE families to determine whether high levels of TNF-α were clustered in a heritable pattern. We measured TNF-α in 242 SLE patients, 361 unaffected family members, 23 unaffected spouses of SLE patients, and 62 unrelated healthy controls...

OBJECTIVES Early detection and screening for colorectal cancer is important among first degree relatives (FDR) of colon cancer cases. METHODS Our target population comprised all such FDR, above 40 years of age, registered during the years 2003-2007, Jordan. Detailed information about cancer cases was collected from Jordan Cancer Registry. The screening study was conducted through two stages, ...

BACKGROUND Approximately 15% to 25% of colorectal cancer (CRC) cases have positive family history for disease. Colonoscopy screening test is the best way for prevention and early diagnosis. Studies have found that first degree relatives (FDRs) with low socioeconomic status are less likely to participate in colonoscopy screening program. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study is to determine the ass...

BACKGROUND The risk of colorectal cancer is higher among relatives of those affected. The neoplastic yield reported from screening such individuals varies enormously between studies and depends on the age and strength of the family history of those screened. AIMS To ascertain the neoplastic yield of endoscopic screening of first degree relatives of patients with colorectal cancer by age and f...

BACKGROUND This study aimed to increase cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment in adult first degree relatives of patients with premature ischaemic heart disease (PIHD) using written and verbal advice. METHODS DESIGN A prospective, randomised controlled trial. SETTING Cardiovascular wards at three South Australian hospitals. Cardiovascular risk assessments were performed in general...

The role of smoking as potential risk factor, selection factor ("healthy smoker" effect) and modifying factor (severity) of asthma was studied in the Epidemiological study on the Genetics and Environment of Asthma, bronchial hyperresponsiveness and atopy (EGEA). The analysis involved 200 adult asthmatic cases recruited in chest clinics, 265 nonasthmatic controls and 586 relatives of asthmatics ...

An autoimmune background is thought to characterize the families of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, but disease patterns and HLA-DR association seem to vary considerably among different ethnic groups. We investigated the prevalence of autoimmune diseases in 245 MS patients and 245 age- and sex-matched normal controls (NC), originating from and living in North-east Italy, and their first degre...