Genetic Rates of Mental Illness
Schizophrenia
Degree of Relationship To Person with Schizophrenia | My risk of developing Schizophrenia | My chance of not developing Schizophrenia |
No genetic relationship (base rate) | 1% | 99% |
Niece, Nephew, Aunt, Uncle | 2% | 98% |
Grandmother or Grandfather | 3% | 97% |
Brother or Sister | 10% | 90% |
Mother or Father | 13% | 87% |
Both parents | 37 to 46% | 63 to 54% |
Identical Twin | 50% | 50% |
Mood Disorder (unipolar depression or bipolar disorder)
Degree of Relationship To Person with Mood Disorder | My risk of developing a Mood Disorder | My chance of not developing a Mood Disorder |
Brother or Sister with Unipolar Depression | 15% | 85% |
Brother or Sister with Bipolar | 12% | 88% |
Mother or Father with Unipolar Depression | 15% | 85% |
Mother or Father with Bipolar | 27% | 73% |
Both parents with Bipolar | 74% | 26% |
Identical Twin with Unipolar Depression | 70% | 30% |
Identical Twin with Bipolar | 74% | 26% |
Source: Torrey, 1995.
Note: Statistics cannot be used to predict the course of individual lives. They can be used as a risk guide, but they do not evaluate any one person's case. Any statement about risk is done on an actuarial basis in a similar way insurance companies compile lists of features about people at risk for automobile accidents.