Children of psychotic parents were studied in two groups. In one group the children had been reared by their parents; in the other group, they had been removed from their homes before three years of age and reared in foster homes or institutions. Both groups were compared with a control group of children having nonpsychotic parents. Although its methodology is open to considerable

question, this study is of some interest in its suggested conclusion that 'adequate stable surroundings could have a mitigating influence on a handicapping genetic heritage'. It might therefore be of value to those who wish some crude quantification of the possible ameliorating effects of environment on hereditary factors.