Summary
It is well-known that the fertility of schizophrenic patients, particularly males, is below the population average. The main measures of fertility (reproductivity) are marriage rate, marital fertility, and rate of reproduction. A review of the literature reveals the rate of reproduction of schizophrenic patients to be 30% to 80% of the general population, the reduction being mainly due to reduced probability of marriage. At least one investigation presented evidence for an increase in marriage rate and rate of reproduction in schizophrenic patients relative to the general population in recent time. If this increase were to be confirmed it would undoubtedly have practical as well as theoretical implications. The hypothesis of a compensatory higher fertility of healthy relatives of schizophrenics based on a physiological advantage is empirically unproven. Additionally, the concept of a balanced polymorphism in schizophrenia rests on a superficial analogy with Mendelian traits.
Zusammenfassung
Seit langem ist bekannt, daß Schizophrene, besonders männliche Patienten, eine gegenüber der Allgemeinbevölkerung herabgesetzte Fertilität haben. Die wichtigsten Meßgrößen der Fertilität sind die Heiratsrate, die eheliche Fertilität und die allgemeine Rate der Reproduktivität. In der Literatur liegt die allgemeine Rate der Reproduktivität schizophrener Patienten bei 30–80% der Allgemeinbevölkerung. Dies beruht in erster Linie auf einer herabgesetzten Heiratsrate. Eine Studie beschreibt eine Angleichung der Heiratsrate und der allgemeinen Reproduktivität von schizophrenen Patienten an die Allgemeinbevölkerung. Wenn der Anstieg sich bestätigen ließe, dann wäre dies von theoretischer und praktischer Bedeutung. Für die Hypothese einer kompensatorisch erhöhten Fertilität der gesunden Verwandten von Schizophrenen, die sogar mit einem physiologischen Vorteil in Zusammenhang gebracht worden ist, gibt es bislang keine empirischen Belege. Das Konzept eines balancierten genetischen Polymorphismus bei der Schizophrenie beruht auf einer oberflächlichen Analogie mit Mendelschen Merkmalen.
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Haverkamp, F., Propping, P. & Hilger, T. Is there an increase of reproductive rates in schizophrenics?. Arch Psychiatr Nervenkr 232, 439–450 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00345599
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00345599