Abstract:
Consistent associations have been found between advanced paternal age and an increased
risk of psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia in their offspring. This increase appears
to be linear as paternal age increases. The present study investigates the relationship
between early deviant behaviour in the first 10 years of life of patients as well as longer
term functional outcome and paternal age in sporadic Afrikaner founder population cases of
schizophrenia. This might improve our understanding of Paternal Age-Related
Schizophrenia (PARS). Follow up psychiatric diagnosis was confirmed by the Diagnostic
Interview for Genetic Studies (DIGS). An early deviant childhood behaviour semi-structured
questionnaire and the Specific Level of Functioning Assessment (SLOF) were completed.
From the logistic regression models fitted, a significant negative relationship was found between paternal age at birth and social dysfunction as early deviant behaviour.Additionally, regression analysis revealed a significant negative relationship between paternal age at birth and the SLOF for interpersonal relationships later in life. Early social dysfunction may represent a phenotypic trait for PARS. Further research is required to understand the relationship between early social dysfunction and deficits in interpersonal
relationships later in life.
