OBJECTIVE: The inability to taste phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) has been associated with medical and neurological illnesses not typically related to taste. The authors examined PTC sensitivity in schizophrenia patients and their non-ill relatives to determine whether this represented a vulnerability marker. METHOD: PTC sensitivity was assessed in 42 schizophrenia patients, 23 healthy comparison subjects, and 12 first-degree relatives of the patients. RESULTS: More nontasters were found among patients and family members than healthy comparison subjects. Among patients, nontasters had more positive symptoms. Differences were not explained by sex, age, medication, smoking, or cognitive impairment. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of PTC nontasters was greater among schizophrenia patients and non-ill first-degree family members. Phenotypic variation in PTC sensitivity is genetic in origin. This suggests a higher risk for illness among subjects with recessive alleles.
OBJECTIVE: The inability to taste phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) has been associated with medical and neurological illnesses not typically related to taste. The authors examined PTC sensitivity in schizophreniapatients and their non-ill relatives to determine whether this represented a vulnerability marker. METHOD:PTC sensitivity was assessed in 42 schizophreniapatients, 23 healthy comparison subjects, and 12 first-degree relatives of the patients. RESULTS: More nontasters were found among patients and family members than healthy comparison subjects. Among patients, nontasters had more positive symptoms. Differences were not explained by sex, age, medication, smoking, or cognitive impairment. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of PTC nontasters was greater among schizophreniapatients and non-ill first-degree family members. Phenotypic variation in PTC sensitivity is genetic in origin. This suggests a higher risk for illness among subjects with recessive alleles.
Authors: Paul J Moberg; Colleen McGue; Stephen J Kanes; David R Roalf; Catherine C Balderston; Raquel E Gur; Christian G Kohler; Bruce I Turetsky Journal: Schizophr Res Date: 2007-01-08 Impact factor: 4.939
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Authors: Teresa M Karrer; Danielle S Bassett; Birgit Derntl; Oliver Gruber; André Aleman; Renaud Jardri; Angela R Laird; Peter T Fox; Simon B Eickhoff; Olivier Grisel; Gaël Varoquaux; Bertrand Thirion; Danilo Bzdok Journal: Hum Brain Mapp Date: 2019-07-16 Impact factor: 5.038
Authors: Michael T Compton; Dawn F Ionescu; Beth Broussard; Sarah L Cristofaro; Stephanie Johnson; Patrick J Haggard; Amy A Potts; Claire Ramsay Wan; Elaine F Walker Journal: Psychiatry Res Date: 2013-04-16 Impact factor: 3.222