[Families of late delusional schizophrenia patients].

Families of 44 schizophrenic probands with an onset over 45 years of age, were studied. Among the secondary psychoses, typical schizophrenical psychoses, with an onset in young and middle age were prevalent, no affective psychoses being revealed. The risk for schizophrenia in the parents and sibs was lower than in the families of schizophrenic patients with an onset in young age. However, the risk of morbidity in the relatives of first degree was higher than the incidence of schizophrenia in the population. The general familial background corresponded to the familial background of schizophrenic patients described in the literature. The question of genetical bonds with late delusional schizophrenia and schizophrenia in general is discussed.