Descriptive Psychopathology: The Signs and Symptoms of ...

129 Appendix 5.1: Questions for past illness10 One of us (MAT) was the principle investigator on a large project that gathered informationfrom first-degree relatives of patients with either schizophrenia or a mood disorder.Whenever possible, relatives were personally interviewed, but they also provided informationabout the patient and other relatives. Mothers gave the most and the most reliableinformation. Older sisters were the next best source. The information from patients’ fatherswas highly variable in quality and quantity.11 Obtaining the ages and names of close family members accomplishes two things. First, itprovides some assessment of the patient’s biographic memory and cognitive difficulties.Second, the ages of the family members can be compared to the age of risk for diseasesin the differential diagnosis, and whether they are in the risk period. For example, ifHuntington’s disease is a consideration, but the health of the patient’s parents is unknownand the patient’s siblings appear healthy, healthy siblings over age 60 are unlikely to have theillness, but healthy siblings under age 30 are yet to enter the peak risk period.12 Levin et al. (1985).13 Peleg and Shalev (2006).14 Covey et al. (1998).15 Kaufman and Sachdeo (2003); Bonilha and Li (2004).16 CAGE is a four-item screening acronym assessing for alcoholism and standing for cuttingdown, annoyed by criticism, guilt feelings, and having eye-openers.17 Fink et al. (2002).18 Chung and Martin (2005).19 Enevoldson (2004); Winger et al. (2005).