Abstract
Objective. To analyze research findings published the years 2006–2009 concerning patients with schizophrenia and their relatives.
Review. One of the current approaches in the study of pathogenesis of schizophrenia is to compare schizophrenic patients with their healthy siblings in terms of neuroanatomical and neurophysiological features, as well as social functioning. Research findings reported in recent years provide growing evidence for the presence of cerebral abnormalities, both structural and functional, in healthy siblings. Detection and description of such abnormalities may help to promote understanding of the mechanisms of action of genetic and environmental factors in the development of psychosis.
Conclusions. In recent years a growing body of research compares patients with schizophrenia and their relatives. On the one hand, such studies seek biological risk factors that determine individual susceptibility to developing schizophrenia, and on the other they suggest the range of therapeutic interventions that should be provided to relieve the burden of schizophrenia on caregivers.