Lack of evidence for linkage to chromosomes 13 and 8 for schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder

A previous report [Blouin et al., 1998: Nat Genet 20:70-73] suggesting linkage to chromosomes 13q32 and 8p21 in families with schizophrenia led us to investigate these regions in a large set of 301 multiplex families with schizophrenia. Multipoint analyses failed to reveal evidence for linkage to any portion of chromosome 13, while only a weakly positive score was present on 8p using the identical marker reported in the earlier report. Failure to confirm the Blouin et al claims in a substantially larger cohort adds emphasis to the inconsistency of the findings concerning linkage in schizophrenia. Am. J. Med. Genet. (Neuropsychiatr. Genet.) 96:235-239, 2000.