Schizophrenia And Manic-depressive Disorder: The Biological Roots Of Mental Illness As Revealed By The Landmark Study Of Identical Twins [Paperback]

E. Fuller Torrey (Author), Ann E. Bowler (Author), Edward H. Taylor (Author), Irving I. Gottesman (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0465072852 | ISBN-13: 978-0465072859 | Publication Date: April 21, 1995

An important contribution to the ongoing debate over the origins of mental illness, this book is based on the largest study ever of identical twins in which one was ill and the other not. The book provides compelling evidence that both schizophrenia and manic-depressive disorder are biologically based diseases of the brain, unrelated to psychological influences.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Schizophrenia is now understood to be a biologically based condition, and previous studies have established that people with an identical twin who is schizophrenic are at high risk for developing the disease. The study Torrey is considering looks at identical twin pairs in which one sibling is schizophrenic and the other is not, in order to investigate other, nongenetic causes. The results indicate that the schizophrenic twin is more likely to have suffered injury as a fetus and newborn, although the picture is complicated and such factors are not universally present. The authors are to be applauded for presenting the material in a fashion that is comprehensible to the nonspecialist. But their book is too narrowly focused to be a necessary purchase for most public libraries, whose patrons' needs will be well served by one of Torrey's earlier books, Surviving Schizophrenia: A Family Manual (HarperCollins, 1988. rev. ed.). The current title is recommended for academic libraries with programs or courses in clinical or abnormal psychology.
- Mary Ann Hughes, Neill P.L., Pullman, Wa.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books (April 21, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0465072852
• ISBN-13: 978-0465072859
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,802,233 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

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5.0 out of 5 stars Is "mental" illness nurture or nature: Finally answered, September 26, 2009

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Mental Health Expert "Mental Health Expert" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Schizophrenia And Manic-depressive Disorder: The Biological Roots Of Mental Illness As Revealed By The Landmark Study Of Identical Twins (Paperback)

Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are relatively rare. About 5% of population. So finding people to participate in research is difficult. Finding twins? Almost impossible.

This is the kind of study only these authors could do: find twins, where one is mentally ill and the other is not. Due to their stature in science they were able to do it. They wanted to explore if schizophrenia and manic depression are the result of genes, or is it acquired elsewhere.

This book, written in language for the non-scientific oriented answers these questions in depth. I won't tell you what they found, but the answer will surprise you and enlighten you and maybe even inspire you to support more research into serious mental illness.

BTW, this book will be of special extra interest to individuals with mental illness who are considering having children, because it gives perhaps the best genetic counseling you could ever get.