Inheriting ASD from a schizophrenic...

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what are the chances of inheriting both disorders?

There's a been a lot of talk about the genetic link between autism and schizophrenia in the news lately and on the board. I've seen some helpful insight. I know there are no real figures or concrete stats concerning this, so I'd just like to know if anyone has had experience or knows of someone who has.

I've had Aspie traits my entire life and I don't feel that I'm becoming schizophrenic but I'm 26 and the onset can be later for women. My father is a paranoid schizophrenic and there are all kinds of *interesting* neurological quirks in members of his family. Could it be less likely than I will develop schizophrenia because I already have traits of ASD? Do people generally inherit one or the other? I've heard of people with ASD becoming schizophrenic and I wonder how common that is, also if schizophrenia, specifically, ran in their family or not.

I am not terrified of this happening or anything, I don't think it's going to but I stll have to wonder. I have no paranoid thoughts or delusions, hallucinations, or anything that would indicate schizophrenia aside from typical Aspie loner traits, but this has always been my nature, sometimes to a greater degree than other times.

My mother is schizophrenic, but I seem to inherit more of my mental self from my father, who was not (in fact, he was very likely autistic). He seemed to get them from his father (again, probably autistic), and no members of his family have schizophrenia.

However, it could be that autistics do not find it as difficult to accept schizophrenics, and therefore are more likely to pass on schizophrenic genes from their partners than the general populace.

One of my mother's sisters is schizophrenic, and I think my maternal grandmother was as well. So, there's a link? That's interesting.

Schizophrenia and ASD's are generally mutually exclusive; rarely is any Autistic/AS schizophrenic and vice versa. In fact, if one has Autism/AS then that mostly rules out schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is like the opposite disorder.

That being said, as I understand, there may be a genetic correlation (putative - unknown for certain). But most always just one is expressed. It's not uncommon for neuropsychiatric disorders to occur in familial clusters.

I am a HFA (Aspie) but I know there are other family members/ancestors with neuro/psych disorders that are not ASD. But one will preclude another, genetically, as expressed by one's phenotype.

MrLoony - I know what you mean. On the Wrong Planet I've met really few Aspies with schizophrenia. But when it does occur it seems tragic to me, and I am sorry. Schizophrenia is defined as an illness; ASD is not an illness but instead a condition/syndrome/disorder; a way of being.

From another standpoint - Autistics, as a rule, do not smoke. This is a strong trait and related to our nicotonic receptors. Schizophrenics are heavy smokers, with ~ 98% being smokers! In terms of our neurology, this is meaningful. Oftentimes schizophrenics project their thoughts onto another (entity), such as feeling they are being commanded or receiving signals/messages from an outside source, etc. Autism is essentially the opposite.

MotownDangerPants - good question......? Not too likely, but within any given family group we can assume there would be clusters or both, just not at the same time. As per what is known via modern research.

Interestingly, as I understand, although there are really few schizophrenic Autistics, there are some notable exceptions. Not to be presumptous, but I guess Dr. John Nash (mathematician, known from the popular film 'A Beautiful Mind') was indeed this unique combination.

Remember that schizophrenia typically appears in early adulthood with real neurological digression noted (i.e., schizophrenic brains show damage/differences - ASDs do not). ASD's are from birth and lifelong. We certainly can, and do, very well (given the right circumstances, etc).

I really feel badly for those with schizophrenia; they do suffer. In a sense, I think we are lucky - if you know what I mean. If I could choose any neuro/psych 'difference' to have, it would be AS.

There is 4 people in my extended family with skizofrenia. 1 in my imidate family also in imidate family is bipola, depresion, anxity disorder, alcaholism, drug adiction and PTSD, there is ADHD also. I have ASD but no skizophrenia yet. I am the only person in my imidate family with no mental ilnes. Just ASD. I have had soem difiuclty with depresion and anxity btu not very much now. I do not think I will get skizophrinia. but maby a doctor is important to know for you.

I'm back.....just briefly, here's but a few scholarly articles about ASD & non-smoking behaviours, etc; a dramatic opposite of schizophrenia and what that implies. I know of a few ASD individuals who smoke, but like MotownDangerPants wrote, smoking may not be congruent.

Low prevalence of smoking in patients with autism spectrum disorders:

http://www.psy-journal.com/article/S0165-1781(03)00123-9/abstract


http://www.schres-journal.com/article/S0920-9964(05)00075-7/abstract

EDIT: Apologies - not sure if these links are accessible from the Wrong Planet but you could 'copy & paste' URL into browser. I have a new Internet acct (via University) and it's s.l.o.w. Technical difficulties. Anyhow, interesting topic.

Trivia about Vincent Van Gogh....We probably were all taught that he was likely suffered from schizophrenia and this seems logical. But, at the same time, he showed real signs of HFA/AS. Cannot know, but if his AS was a big unknown, untreated and misunderstood, I'm sure he'd have plenty of psychiatric difficulties as a results. Only speculative, but maybe he would have felt better if he'd had a different/better environment and people who understood him. He was known for being for sensory, highly honest and sincere (to a fault?), and other signs....makes one wonder, I guess.

^ About nicotine, in brief: Essentially that our nicotinic receptors are already super-saturated. I've used this analogy: Let 'tobacco' (i.e., cigarettes) equal 'cheesecake.' Imagine a 'normal' person is offered a piece of cheesecake - yum. Who doesn't like cheesecake? But, for an ASD individual, it would be as if we had just eaten a BIG meal with side dishes and a dessert already. An offer of that cheesecake slice would not be wanted, or even tolerated. In this analogy, a schizophrenic would be like a really hungry person who would eat anything tasty - that cheesecake would be extra appealing.

Plus, with cigarettes, a big element or lure, especially when one begins smoking (like as a teenager) is peer pressure. As we know, ASD individuals aren't swayed much by peer pressure since we're not exactly the 'popular type,' if you know what I mean. For (most?) many schizophrenics, they can be pretty easily swayed in this regard. As if they want to fit in with the crowd.

In fact, nicotine can lessen the symptoms of Autism, supposedly. But, that's not to say we should start smoking! No....just that we are super-sensitive to the effects and are already saturated. OCD can be similarly related (but not as strongly).

In fact, back to OP, this is difference between schizophrenia and ASD has major implications; our brains are different. Plus other differences as well. I've heard of ASD being like "schizophrenia inside-out."

Another (possible difference) - ASD individuals tend to need/want less sleep than a typical person. Those with schizophrenia can sleep plenty more hours (exception if/when they are in a manic phase).

Another big sensory difference - ASD individuals can be sensory overwhelmed and quickly - - pretty sure this is true of most of the Wrong Planet; we have difficulites with sensory overload and related. Often those with schizophrenia are seeking sensation. Meaning, they often "crave" what is termed "sour" or "acid" colors such as fluorescent brights. I found this color preference of schizophrenics interesting. The flip opposite of most ASD.
*Note: Neuroleptics (antipsychotic drugs to treat schizophrenia) can alter how they behave/think - that's a confounding factor.