In a double-blind-crossover-study, 10 patients with schizophrenia, 10 of their unaffected siblings and 9 healthy controls randomly received metabolic stressor and placebo. A significant HVA plasma elevation in response to stress was found in siblings whose response was intermediate to that of patients and controls. Only siblings additionally displayed an exaggerated 5HIAA response. (c) 2007 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.